Blackrock take on Co Carlow in their opening AIB All-Ireland League match tomorrow, having had a bye in the competition last weekend.

A GRAND total of 85 boats turned out for the opening race of the C.H. Marine Autumn League at the Royal Cork YC in Crosshaven where the skippers and crews just could not have had it any better.

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.

THE mid-summer interlude in West Cork over for another year, racing is back to full swing along the coast and this weekend will be particularly hectic in Cork Harbour, with the Royal Cork holding its annual two-day At Home Regatta.

Blackrock head to Carlow this weekend looking to boost their away record in Division One of the AIB All-Ireland League.