Ocean to city race to hit 3 countries!

A number of festivals have been cancelled already this year but the Ocean to City race will be going ahead this June with an altered format.

Cork Harbour Festival’s flagship race will be part of a unique international time trial series called the Five Miles From Home Series 2021 in collaboration with national rowing associations in Scotland and Wales. The race will be the the second leg in the series.

Cork City Council, Cork County Council and the Port of Cork are behind the Ocean to City – Five Miles From Home is which will take place from 4-6 June. The challenge can be joined from anywhere in the world; rather than asking participants to travel, Ocean to City invites people to participate in this international challenge from their home waters.

Taking part is easy - just form a crew, plot a five mile course, cover the distance as fast or as stylishly as possible during the designated time windows, submit your times and join the online celebration afterwards.

The Five Miles From Home Series has a main and an alternative challenge. The main challenge is open to fixed-seat rowing boats such as currachs, skiffs, gigs and yawls. The alternative challenge is open to kayaks, SUPs, canoes, dragon boats, offshore sliding-seat boats and outriggers. There’s also a dedicated under-19s youth category.

The full Five Miles From Home Series includes the Scottish Castle to Crane leg on 7-9 May and the Welsh Sea Rowing leg on 9-11 July. Participants can take part in the whole series, allowing them to compare and improve on their results as they progress, or just in one single leg. Each leg in the series has a 48 hour window during which the challenge has to be completed.

With Covid-19 constraints making large events off limits, it is hoped that by the summer restrictions will be relaxed sufficiently to allow clubs to organise their own Ocean to City - Five Miles From Home micro-events.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said: “Festivals and events strengthen the fabric of our communities and celebrate the very best of what our county has to offer, such as our spectacular coastline and rich maritime history.”

Entries opened on 1 March and participation costs €10 per boat per leg, or €20 for all three legs. For kayaks and SUPs it is €5 for one leg, or €10 for all three.

If participants are unable to complete the course on water, they can transfer to the ‘land challenge’ and walk, wheel or run the five miles.

Ocean to City is organised by Meitheal Mara – Cork’s community boatyard. More information can be found on oceantocity.com.