FAVOURABLE NORTHWESTERLY winds swept competitors in Ireland’s longest and Europe’s oldest inland water race across Lough Corrib and into Galway city at the weekend.
The 128-year-old Cong-Galway sailing race was only missing actress Maureen O'Hara, who was in the Mayo village the night before to mark the 60th anniversary of The Quiet Man.
Some 20 boats undertook the 30-mile sail, which was reputedly initiated as a “wager” back in 1882.
Once a social event similar to Ballybrit on the Galway calendar, the original race course was 61.5 nautical miles. It ran up the river and across the lake – from the city’s Royal Galway Yachting Club at the Fisheries Field to Ashford Castle in Cong and back.
The first World War “put an end to its glory days”, according to the organisers, and its original format last took place in 1931. It was revived in 1972 on a one-way course from Lisloughrey pier in Cong to the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club – once known as a “club of Galway gentlemen” – on Earl’s Island in the city.
Competitors have to stick to an old steamer channel to avoid the lake’s many rocks, with one of the most challenging sections on the “narrows” between Annaghdown – location of the Anach Cuain boat sinking, when 19 people lost their lives in 1828 – and the lower lake.
Galway Bay Sailing Club competitors Tim Breen and Gerry Murray were first across the line between Dangan and Menlo Castle, in a Hobie Tiger, and winning crew on handicap placing was the sailing club’s Cian Walsh and Fiachra McHugh in a Dart 16, with the club’s Jack Lee and Ciaran Jordan second in a 420, and Tommy Furey third in a Laser 1 dinghy.
The fleet then had to figure out how to get under Quincentennial Bridge without losing a mast – by capsizing deliberately in many cases.
Next weekend Galway hosts several more events, including the international Ironman event, which takes on a course across the city and into the county, and the 420 dinghy national championships at Spiddal, Co Galway.
