THE big fleet had a slow passage in the annual race from Cobh to Blackrock as light winds and frequent rain showers arrived instead of the expected very fresh south easterlies. Indeed the race even had to be shortened to a finish-line a little east of Blackrock Castle; a wise decision with the trip across the two-and-a-half mile stretch of Lough Mahon’s open waters very slow.

DESPITE light and variable winds and early tides, 85 boats raced in the Cove SC John McCarthy Motorpoint annual race from Cobh to Blackrock village on the outskirts of Cork City.