After missing several years on the bounce to COVID, followed by a torrid year of personal and family health, 2023 provided vindication, if it were needed, that the Celtic Cup is an exceptional ocean race and one worth running – it is the UK’s premier ocean race with the broadest range of craft, six man ocean canoe’s, stand up paddle boards, prone, ocean skis and Va’a canoes all at one venue and one start line!

Don’t want to read! Scroll to the bottom for 2024 dates, results and the all important video

We have to give a massive thank you to all those paddlers who supported the event this year by making the not inconsequential drive west. And, to our safety crews from Hayle Surf Life Saving club and their expert IRB crews (hayleslsc.co.uk), GPS tracking and timing by GeoTracks (geotracks.co.uk), drone footage by Chris Webber of Chris Webber Photography (www.chriswebberphotography.co.uk). Water stills from our very own talented plumber Lewis Kirton – raffle prizes were kindly donated by Nordic Kayaks UK (nordickayaks.co.uk)and Epic Kayaks UK (epic-kayaks.co.uk). And most of all the Ocean Sports team who worked hard all weekend keeping things running slicker than a slick thing.

Racing on Saturday involved outrigger crews drawn from around the country battle it out in V6 (six person canoe’s) over a 15km looped course with Female, Male and Mixed crews taking on some technically challenging conditions. With significant wind gusting over 25 knots westerly the more sheltered inside course was used – those who don’t know can be easily fooled into thinking that more sheltered equates to being easy. With a following 2.5m ground swell and a downwind leg making the longest part of the course crews would have to well drilled in the ocean to do well.

Ocean Sports Male crew, who rarely manage to leave the shire, were keen to see where they stand amongst the country’s best including the National team selected to compete at the World Championships this year. Leaving nothing in the tank, the Ocean Sports team put on a dominant show from start to finish, surfing their way to an impressive victory.

Similarly, the Women’s crew of ? never looked in doubt leading from the start, with hard fought battles for second and third between ? and ? making for exciting racing. Once suitable recovered all of the crews raced again in the mixed team event over the slightly shorter distance of 12km with ? and ? taking top honours. Results and video below.

Possibly one of the most impressive start lines on the domestic calendar – with over one hundred craft lined up in conditions which would allow few events to be run on the ocean, thanks to the unique aspect of Carbis bay drawing in ocean swells without having to punch through surf plus, the well honed expert skills of Hayle Surf Life Saving Club and their amazing IRB crews. This year an increased level of paddler safety was achieved by using GeoTrax GPS tracking systems giving us live stream of every paddlers position out on the course.

Once again, the inside course was selected with significant, head high plus swell, conditions hidden behind the ‘Island’. This is no ordinary looped course, with the longest leg lined up with perfect downwind runners while upwind was completely sheltered by the headlands of St’Ives Bay.

Early on class dominated with Chris ? and Emily Corin flying out in front on their Nordic Kayak ocean skis. Single and double skis were vying to keep ahead of the Ocean Sports OC2 duo, Damian and Glenn, all finishing within ? of each other.

Aside from the accolade of winning the Celtic Cup ocean ski paddlers were attempting to secure their spot at this years Worlds Championships being held in Perth Australia this November making the stakes high for the under 23, under 18 and Open ocean ski categories. Rosie Edwards along with Kiran Gammon both taking out their respective divisions along with ? and ? helped to cemement their positions on the National team.

First in best dressed as they say! We will be running the 2024 edition of the Celtic Cup on July 6th & 7th – make sure that you put the dates into your diary, get your accommodation bookings sorted and get ready for even more action! Entries will open May 1st and close June 30th.