Cork Harbour Festival's flagship event takes place today 

The flagship event of the Cork Harbour Festival, Ocean to City: An Rás Mór, gets underway today, with hundreds of participants set to take to the water.

The all-inclusive rowing and paddling event embraces everything from traditional wooden working boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs and longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards.

It includes races over four course distances: the 28km Ocean Course, 22km City Course, 13km Monkstown Course and the 4km Youth Course – all finishing to a warm welcome in the city centre.

Speaking to The Echo ahead of the event, Cork Harbour Festival manager, Joya Kuin said approximately 550 participants will be taking part this year in about 200 boats.

Ms Kuin said there has been a “great level of interest” in the annual event once again this year.

“I think a lot of people took up outdoor activities during Covid like walking, rowing, paddling, stand-up paddleboarding, so that’s all really great for Ocean to City and Cork Harbour Festival.

“At a national level, Fáilte Ireland are doing a lot of work at the moment in terms of promoting Ireland as an outdoor activity destination.

“Ocean to City is kind of part of that destination branding as such a big, big participative event which is really great.

“We want to have Ocean to City up there as a bucket list item for anybody who does anything on the water."

Participants hail from all over Cork and other counties, with a significant level of international entrants once again this year.

There will be family-friendly entertainment at various vantage points along Cork Harbour during the race, including Cobh, Monkstown, Blackrock and Cork city.

At the finish line at Lapp’s Quay, onlookers will be able to enjoy the big spectacle with entertainment, live commentary, and food from 1.30pm onwards.

“It’s a great event for families to come down to because there’s so many different types of boats to look at on the water,” Ms Kuin said.

Cork Harbour Festival runs until June 11 and features over 80 events.

For more info see corkharbourfestival.com.