Spring is in the air. The cold hand of the previous year’s winter, which resulted in heavy snow and fixture cancellations as late as March was conspicuous by its absence but as April begins no one is taking the warm weather for granted just yet.

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.