Tonight provided ideal conditions for the start of the feeder race from Cork to Dun Laoghaire for the Liebherr/ICRA Nationals. ICRA Commodore Barry Rose acted as race officer and sent the five competing boats on a beat in the harbour against a strong ebb tide in 12 to 15 knots of a NNW wind.

Marinerscove.ie came in on the pin end of the line and took the lead as the boats beat up the eastern shore to avoid the tide. They then tacked across the tide to the mouth of the Crosshaven River and  had a beat up the western shore to no 10 buoy where spinnakers were hoisted and the very intense battle continued between Dave Dwyer in Marinerscove and Anthony O’Leary in Antix.

Andrew Creighton was at the helm of Roxy but looked somewhat under crewed as they set off for a night of sailing during which it was expected the breeze would lighten. Also competing were Kieran Twomey’s Gloves Off and Donal O’Leary’s D-tox.