Weather permitting, women crews are again expected to challenge the men in a boat race across the Irish Sea starting today.
The Celtic Challenge, a rowing race from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales, has enticed 22 boats, seven from Ireland and the rest from England and Wales, a record entry.
The race is held biennially and Arklow women’s team is bidding to win its section for a third consecutive time.
When the Arklow women won the race in 2008, they even beat the men’s teams to the finish line, while in 2010 they set a new women’s record time for the 90 mile-row.
It is a huge endurance test, with the rowers having to battle against waves and winds for between 15 and 24 hours before they reach Aberystwyth on Sunday morning.
Arklow women and the two other women’s teams and the mixed teams head off from Arklow’s south beach at 1pm today and will be followed by the men’s teams at 3pm.
Susan Tyrrell, a member of the Arklow women’s crew, said they had been training four times a week since January and were determined to retain their title.