Hearts race as the sun appears

Chasing the big boys on a 32-foot sailboat can be as much of a challenge as racing at Cork Week. That wasn’t the plan.

Plan A consisted of spending the morning in contemplative serenity, meandering on the water with only the gulls and the dolphins for company, as the two racing fleets skidded out of Crosshaven for the third day of competition in what is recognised as one of the finest regattas in the world.

That was judged a little boring. Better to get the adrenalin flowing and follow the fleet to catch the excitement offshore. Time for Plan B, but we were not alone. Motor launches, RIBs, dinghies, fishing boats — sail spotters in anything that could float had the same idea on what promised to be the sunniest day of the week.