CORK IS gearing up for a weekend of activities on both sea and shore with the annual Ocean to City race and the World Street Performer Championships set to attract thousands of visitors Leeside.
More than 100 entries and 500 rowers are taking part in the race which starts at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven at 11.30am tomorrow when the boats set off on the 15-mile course that sees them head for Roche’s Point at the mouth of Cork harbour.
Turning at Roche’s Point, the contestants then face a gruelling long straight up to Cobh, passing right in front of the quays before heading up past Monkstown, with the first boats expected to cross the finish line at Lapps Quay in Cork city at around 3pm.
A multiplicity of crafts including currachs, a Bantry longboat, a Thames Waterman cutter and two Chinese dragon boats are taking part.
Event manager Siubhán McCarthy said there was a full programme of free entertainment for onlookers at Lapps Quay from 1.30pm. “There will be a real festival atmosphere with face painters and balloon artists, live music, the Cork Circus Pirates and Mermaids and acrobats, while Pádraig Ó Duinnín from Meitheal Mara will be giving a currach-building demonstration.”
Among the other events lined up as part of the Ocean to City experience is a talk by Corkman, Peter Williams about his two attempts to row the Atlantic earlier this year as part of an international crew.
Meanwhile, the Cork midsummer festival also kicks off this weekend with the AIB street performance world championship in Fitzgerald’s park.
Approximately 24 street performers from around the globe will perform 80 free shows at locations in the park on Saturday and Sunday.
For further information on Ocean to City go to www.oceantocity.com while details on the Cork midsummer festival can be obtained at www.corkmidsummer.com.