Sole Irish team faces four French and four British squads to repeat historic 2010 victory on the Isle of Wight.
Racing begins on Sunday morning in the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup in Cowes where Ireland hopes to secure victory for only the second time.
Anthony O’Leary from Cork is again team captain following his successful challenge in 2010 and is joined by American Marc Glimcher and a joint charter by Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling from Dun Laoghaire.
Six inshore races plus a long offshore course are planned between Sunday and the final on Saturday 26th.
France has entered four teams while Britain has three teams plus a Scottish challenge.
The series is primarily for top-end club sailors though a limited number of professionals are permitted to compete on each boat.
