Weather Update: Ocean to City, Saturday 31st May 2025
Due to a developing low-pressure system and strong south-westerly winds forecast for race day, Ocean to City – An Rás Mór will run on our Sheltered River Course this year. This alternative route – successfully used in 2017 -keeps the race within the River Lee between Blackrock and the city centre, offering a competitive race and scenic spectacle along the Marina. While different from our usual harbour courses, it ensures the safety of all crews and allows the event to go ahead in challenging weather. Spectators can look forward to great viewing opportunities along the riverbanks, especially near Blackrock Village, the Marina, and at the Lapp’s Quay Finish Line. For the most up-to-date participants info, please see https://oceantocity.com/plan-e-sheltered-river-course/
Dear Participants,
Last year we received considerable legitimate negative feedback about the length of time participants had to wait to collect their boat from craning. We acknowledge the issue and take responsibility for it. Two core issues have been identified:
- The craning operation takes in the region of five minutes per boat. This computes as roughly 12 per hour. It is not difficult to see that when 60 boats are on the list, delays are inevitable.
- The second core issue is that contacting crew members to collect craft has become a game of chance. Boats cannot be craned until the trailer is in place, and when we cannot contact crew, backup occurs on the pontoon and a whole sequence of delays is set in motion. This issue has worsened year on year.
To address this we are implementing a series of measures to ensure that the crane is working to capacity and that boats are collected on time.
Measures:
Multiple Recovery Points: In addition to the Crane, recovery will now take place at Shandon Boat Club (Currachs and all sliding seats). Only four oared (or more) wooden/ fibre glass boats will be recovered on the crane. Please see recovery schedule below:
- In terms of craning it will begin immediately after the first craft arrives at Port of Cork pontoon. This has been an issue previously with serious time lags waiting for early (and all) finishers to present for boat recovery. Crews must now send their driver (rower or not) immediately over to the craning area to retrieve trailer and collect boat. Experiences volunteers will be on hand to ensure safe recovery on to trailers, which will then exit Kennedy Quay Recovery Area. If the crew must be involved, the boat should be retrieved prior to deregistration. It must be done immediately. Crews will be given one chance to collect; we will assume that crews that cannot be contacted have made their own plans and we will proceed down the list. Boats delaying craning will be transferred back to PoC pontoon for crew pick-up and recovery.
- Recognising that crews will be tired, our volunteer safety boat drivers have agreed to provide tows to crews heading back down to Shandon
- The late start allows all drivers to ensure their car and trailer is in place at the recovery point before they compete. Public Parking is available at Shandon Boat Club
- We will have volunteer teams in place to aid boat recovery at all recovery sites.
- You will be informed when receiving your registration pack, where your boat is being recovered.
- It is possible for crews to leave their trailers (with clearly visible race number showing) beside the craning area so that the volunteer crew can recover the boat before leaving the boat and trailer back in the waiting area. Strapping, craft adjustments,etc will be the responsibility of the crew.
- We will seek to facilitate self-recovery for DIY crews but only in the context where the race channel remains completely clear for competitors.
- Note: should there be a course change or shortening due to the weather, then these recovery plans will be revised and communicated.
We ask for everyone’s cooperation and patience in streamlining this year’s recovery, and look forward to a great race.
Ocean to City Organisers.
