Frequently asked questions

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/ 

Your Race Entry Details

• Accuracy: Please ensure to double-check the information at the bottom of the Active confirmation email for accuracy as these are the details which will determine your race class. Those who have failed to advise us of any changes will be eliminated from the prize categories.
• Complete: If you have not yet completed your entry contact the office at your earliest convenience. Incomplete entries will not be allowed to race.
• Changes: If you need to change anything to your entry, please let us know by Wednesday 28^th May the latest. The registration system does not allow participants to make changes themselves so all changes have to be emailed through to admin(@)oceantocity.com. Be particularly aware of any changes that might alter your racing class (e.g. age, crew gender, boat types). All boat types will be verified before launch and late changes to crews, craft etc. must be recorded before the race.

2025 Race Start times

• 15:30 Crosshaven
• 16:30 Monkstown
• 17:00 Blackrock

Registration

• Ocean & City Courses: Registration will first open on the Friday before the race from 16.00 at the RCYC in Crosshaven. We encourage anyone who can register and collect their race pack on Friday, to do so. On Saturday, we will open registration at 11:45 until 13:45 at the RCYC. A mandatory Participant Safety Briefing will also be given. Your race pack will contain: Course map & instructions, recovery information, orange flag, regulations and general information.
• Monkstown Course: Participants starting from Monkstown have to register at the Monkstown slip, from 14.30 to 15.30, on the Saturday of the race. A mandatory Participant Safety Briefing will also be given at 16.15. This means that it is not needed for Monkstown participants to travel to Crosshaven.

Please note that it is your responsibility to advise us of any changes in your entry. Those who have failed to advise us of any changes may be eliminated from the prize categories.

Boat & trailer parking: 

Before the race:

• Crosshaven – at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC): Open Friday until 21.00. Saturday open from 9.00am
• Monkstown: please note that this is a public slip without secured boat storage. We advise participants to not leave their boats unattended.
• Cork city – near Kennedy’s Quay (The corner of Marina Walk and Mill Road)
  Friday: 18:00 – 22:00
  Note this is a first come, first serve basis due to limited capacity.

See map below:

• Horgan’s Quay
  Friday: 18:00 – 22:00
  Saturday: 08:00 – 11:00

After the race: 

Either at your accommodation or at the dedicated parking area in Cork city; The corner of Marina Walk and Mill Road which opens:

• Saturday 31^st May: 09:00-22:00 or when full.
• Sunday 1st June: 10:30-13:00 collection of trailers.

Launch & Recovery

• Launch RCYC: Crews are welcome to launch their boats at the big slip in front of the Dinghy Hut in the RCYC from Friday morning onwards. Note: There is no crane available at the start. The big slip facilitates enough space to launch from your trailer. Our Launch Coordinator will be present from 14.00 on Friday and on Saturday morning in case of any questions. For Monkstown, please note that this is a public slip without secured boat storage. We advise to arrive with your boat on the morning of the race and follow instructions from our Monkstown Coordinator.
• Recovery: 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. Please see our 2025 Recovery Plan for details on how we aim to remedy the situation. At the finish line our team of volunteers will be working hard to get every boat recovered as fast as possible. With over 200 boats to recover, we would ask for your patience. Our volunteers will endeavour to get your boats recovered as quickly as possible. Designated boats will be recovered by the Doyle’s Shipping crane – due to logistics it is likely that the largest boats will be lifted out last. Kayaks/SUPs will be recovered from the Cork City Marina. Currachs, sliding seat boats that can be lifted, as well as local rowing clubs boats will be towed to Blackrock or Shandon respectively, to keep the amount of boats being towed out to a minimum.
• More detailed recovery instructions will be included in your Race Packs which you pick up at Registration. Please take special note of where your boat will be recovered from as this will dictate how you de-register and where you will need to collect your boat with your trailer after the race.

How to best time your arrival in 2025

If you are arriving on the Friday, we would recommend to:

1. Register at the RCYC in Crosshaven between 16:00-19:00
2. Offload your trailer and launch your boat between 14:00-19:00 so that you can time it perfectly and…
3. Park your trailer overnight at the Cork city centre trailer parking area in Cork City before 21:30 (please ensure that you lock your trailers), or alternatively at Horgan’s Quay from 18.00.
4. You can then avail of the Crew Bus on Saturday morning (for pre-bookings only)

Crew Buses 

• To Crosshaven: Special Crew Buses will be organised to run from Cork’s Albert Quay to the RCYC in Crosshaven on race day for those who have already left their boats at the start. This bus will leave at 11:45 and arrive in time for the mandatory Safety Briefing at 13:15.
• To Monkstown: We will also organise a minibus to the Monkstown Start, leaving from Albert Quay in Cork (outside the Idle Hour Pub, departing at 14:15)
• Tickets cost €6 pp and need to be purchased through participants’ own Active account. Simply sign in to your account on https://www.active.com/ and click on My Events > click on Ocean to City Race > click on ‘purchase merchandise’.  Bus Tickets are available under additional purchases / merchandise in the Ocean to City event until Monday 26^th May 2025 (inclusive).
• Anyone who purchased bus tickets will receive a separate email, in the week before the race, with instructions on what they need to board the bus.

Mandatory Safety Briefing

There will be a mandatory and detailed safety and course briefing before the race start. A member of every crew (captain or cox) must attend this Safety Briefing and a sign-in sheet will record signatures. Crews who have not attended the Safety Briefing will not be permitted to launch or race.

• Crosshaven (RCYC Dingy Hut): 13:15
• Monkstown (Sand Quay slip): 16:15

2025 Race Start

The provisional first start time from Crosshaven is 15.30. Boats will start to arrive at the finish line around 17:30. The race time limit is at 20.00.

De-registration

Please assist us to ensure everyone’s safety by de-registering as soon as you have finished the race. De-registration is an important record for us that participants have finished and are safely ashore. The de-registration tent will be located at the top of the Cork City Marina. Paddlers are strictly required to return the special bibs as they are on loan from Canoeing Ireland.

Race Regulations

For full Race Regulations, please check here.

Prize Giving 2025

Full details on Prizes can be found here https://oceantocity.com/prizes/

Updated & important: Required Safety Equipment for participating craft

All boats must present themselves to a designated inspector for inspection and will be cleared to race only after receiving an appropriate Safe Craft Tag on race day. They are required to have:

• 20ft towline, securely attached to boat
• two 2l bailers
• a knife/multitool
• PFDs for all crew
• drinking water
• sun protection
• a clearly displayed race number
• mobile phone
• orange flag (in race pack)
• kayaks: expedition/unlimited kayaks are required to have spray decks fitted

Don’t forget…

• Prepare for up to 4 hours on the water, with appropriate protection for the elements. Conditions can change on the open water, and protection from both cold, wind and sun is recommended: sunscreen, rain gear, layered clothing, hat/cap, shades, etc.
• Bring at least 2 litres of drinking water per person as well as food.  Refill your bottle at our water trucks located at Crosshaven, Monkstown, Blackrock and the Finish Line.
• Ensure that you bring ALL of the required Safety Equipment for boats listed above.
• All crew members must wear a suitable PFD at all times while afloat/near the water or the crew will be disqualified (PFD belt packs not permitted)
• Post-race showers are available for €5 pp at the Clayton Hotel, between 5:30-8:30pm. Pre-booking essential: 021 4224 994
• It is the responsibility of each competing crew to ensure that their craft is seaworthy for the area and the forecast conditions. All boats must present themselves for inspection on race day.
• Retiral/rescue: Participants must report to a Shore Safety Point if they retire; if rescued, participants will not be permitted to continue racing.
• Rules of racing: participants must go through gates; gates are integral to the course and to safety; overtaking boats must keep clear of boats they are passing; boats being overtaken must hold their course; participants must not wash hang. Participants that do not pass through gates will be automatically disqualified.
• Detailed rules and regulations can be found here.

Participant Events – join the FUN!!

• You’re invited to our Pre-race Gathering “A Taste of Cork’s Culture” from 19:00-20:30, on Friday 30th May 2025. Gather with other crews and our host club Naomhóga Chorcaí to get the inside tips on the race, the courses and the harbour. A warm welcome to our visiting participants, with traditional Irish music and free food tasters from Cork.
• Join the ”Apres Row” After Party directly after the prize giving, at 22:30 on 31st May at Lapps Quay. Unwind after the tough race and celebrate your achievements with a cold drink, live music, street dancing and lots of craic.  Hosted by Naomhóga Chorcaí.
• Make it colourful: We’ve usually have over 200 boats taking part and encourage all participants to join the party! Hoist a flag in the stern of your boat, come along in fancy dress or paint your own crew battle-stripes on your face. The more colour the better!
• Race Day Festivities – Saturday 31st May, afternoon events at Cobh, Blackrock and the Finish Line in Cork City. This year celebrates Ocean to City’s 20th Anniversary with special festivities on Lapps Quay West that include a food market, family fun activities with ‘Open Streets’, live music, kayak polo, balloon  modelling, drummers and much, much more! Details on corkharbourfestival.com
• Prize Giving Ceremony: In the Marquee on Lapps Quay West at 22.00
• Cork Harbour Festival: Ocean to City is the flagship event of the Cork Harbour Festival, taking place 24th May – 2nd June 2025 with over 100 different maritime events. Details on corkharbourfestival.com