The annual Cobh to Blackrock Sailing race was once, traditionally, the closing race of the sailing season in Cork Harbour. That no longer prevails as the sailing season has extended over the years into December for cruiser classes and practically all-year-round for dinghy sailors. However, it is still a major event in the harbour, writes Tom MacSweeney and, while this is a race, it is also a social event, with non-regular racing boats taking part and motor cruisers also going up the river to the centre of the city for the post-race gathering.
While finishing remains near Blackrock, where the village was previously the after-race centre, that was changed a few years ago to the Port of Cork Marina in the city. The Port is a race supporter, with Union Chandlery and the sponsor this year, SafeTrx.
This year’s race has been set for Saturday, September 8, organised by Cobh Sailing Club. Competitors are being told to register to use the ISA SafeTrx Mariner tracking system for the event and must enter for the race using the Cove SC online entry form before Friday, September 7. The start line will be between a flagpole in the vicinity of the Quays Bar on the Cobh foreshore and an outer distance mark. The finish line will be between a finishing vessel, identified by a blue flag and a navigational channel marker.
Traditional/Standard Class will start at 1400, followed by Cruiser Classes 1/2/3/4 and White Sail at 1425.
Kinsale Yacht Club’s Mary P Race
The annual Kinsale Yacht Club’s Mary P Race and ‘Cruise-to-Cork’ is scheduled for the same day and its finish is intended to get boats to Cobh in time for the race to Blackrock. The KYC race has a scheduled start time of 9.25 a.m., for All-In IRC, ECHO and White Sail, with finishing line between No.18 (red) and No.13 (green) buoys near the Spit Light.
The finish vessel will be Mary P. There is a time limit of 1400 which is the scheduled start for the Traditional/Standard Class from Cobh and also gives the Kinsale crews a 25-minute window to prepare to race again, in Classes 1/2/3/4/Whitesail.
That should make for quite a gathering at Cobh and Cork City Marina!
Naval Race Hosted by RCYC
Also scheduled for September Saturdays in Cork are the annual Naval Race on September 15, hosted by the RCYC and the following, Saturday, September 22, the Ballinacurra Race/Marlogue Race/East Ferry Cup, to be hosted by MBSC. These three races will include the combined harbour league for September with the last race to be on September 29 hosted by GISC for the Marlogue/East Ferry Cup. That has been on Friday evenings and for whitesail only, so will presumably be adjusted to incorporate the use of spinnakers. If the weather allows, on the Blackrock Race, these have been a colourful sight in the river channel, but such conditions have not been present too many times in recent years. The Combined League drew over 30 boats when it started back in June but numbers have fallen off since, with a lot of other sailing events and the holiday period on the South Coast. It is hoped that numbers will increase again for September.
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Dinghy League
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club has announced a September Dinghy League, starting this Saturday (Sept 1) with FG for Classes 1 and 2 at 1400.