With recording breaking numbers and record breaking sunshine, this year’s Ocean to City race opened Cork Harbour Festival 2016 in spectacular style!
Over 600 participants and 200 teams took part in the 28km race from Crosshaven to Cork City, in over 30 different types of craft. Thousands of spectators turned out to bask in the summer sunshine and celebrate the 12th edition of what has grown to become Ireland’s premier rowing race. Cork County Cllr. Marcia Dalton presented winning crews with prizes across a range of classes at a post- race ceremony yesterday evening in the Clarion Hotel. Classes ranged from youth crews from across Cork City to veteran rowers, paddlers and kayakers from all over Ireland, England, Wales, The Netherlands, Portugal and the US.
Naomhóga Corcaí, Cork’s currach rowing club and race hosts, did superbly to keep eight titles Leeside across the currach-racing classes. Club Captain, Rose Magner said, ‘we feel so proud as a club to showcase what we do and invite people in, particularly international crews. We had a record 18 crews this year, including two guest crews from the U.S and Wales. It’s great to be able to welcome them to Cork and show them our river, which we love.”
International crews fared well, with First International Crew award going to The Port of London Men’s Crew, and Portuguese crew Ginasio Clube Figueirense, Ginasio 1, taking 1st Monkstown Crew.
Cork Harbour Festival – Ocean to City Festival Director, Donagh MacArtain, said this year was one of the most competitive races on the water. ‘We had a great day’s racing with very close competition, particularly in the kayak and currach-racing classes. Teams throughout the country competed strongly, with victories for Clare, Dublin, Kerry and Galway. The atmosphere and buzz throughout the harbour was superb, right through to the finish line.”
