#foynes – On Saturday next the annual Glin Castle race will be sailed on the Shannon Estuary between the Royal Western Yacht Club in Kilrush and Foynes Yacht Club in Cooleen Point writes Gerry Ryan.
This particular race has been to the forefront in the annals of sailing on the river Shannon for a number of years now.
The late Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald family are very much in favour of this event being held each year between the two yacht clubs.
The race is scheduled for 12 noon at Glin Pier, with a briefing at 11am, and it is proposed to sail down the estuary towards Moneypoint and back up the estuary to various club marks.
The event is open to Class 1, 2 and the Whte Sails division, where a total of 15 yachts will be racing in these three different classes.
After the racing a reception will be held in Glin Castle by Lady Olga FitzGerald and her family, where they will present the prizes to the various winners, and this will take place approximately at 5pm.
On Wednesday evening last a sponsors night was held in the clubhouse, who helped financially in any way with sailing events in the club over the last few years.
The evening started at 7pm with member's bringing the sponsors on different yachts for a sail around Foynes Island to view the Shannon Estuary from a different perspective.
Viewing the Tarbert power station towers down river and seeing the Clare coast as well a spectacle for the sponsors while some have never been sailing on the Shannon estuary before.
The giant alumina smelting plant, Aughinish Alumina can be seen with the very large structured sheds that store the alumina, and leaving the 'upper estuary' the view of Foynes Port comes into view, and the yacht club in glorious August sunshine.
When the sponsors arrived at the club they were treated to a wine and hors d'oeuvre reception, which were served by committee member, Patrica McCormack and Trish Lowes, with Shauna Kirwan looking after the bar.
Commodore Tom Murray in his address spoke about the 'voluntary effort that the member's have given the club since it's inception in 1962, and said that he was delighted that our sponsor's who we rely on support are extremely appreciated by the club.
He went on: 'What you see today is a fantastic facility for the community to enjoy, we have the facilities for the youth to learn sailing and become member's of this club, which is the backbone of every club'.
The annual Foynes to the Clare coastal village of Cappa race took place last Saturday in light conditions. A total of nine boats started at the club starting line with two divisions, Class 1 and 2 and White Sails.
The prizes were the Galleon Cup in the IRC handicap system and the Sean Keating trophy for the White Sails.
A total of five seconds in Class 1 and 2 separated Dexterity and Battle, which was closely fought by these two vessels,. and fifteen seconds between Golden Kopper and Dexterity on corrected time, but at the finish line at Cappa Pier, Golden Kopper received the Galleon Cup. After the IRC handicap only five minutes separated the boats.
In the White Sails division for the Sean Keating trophy former Commodore Pat Finucane and crew came first to the finish line.
At the presentation of prizes in the Galleon Inn, Class Captain, Alan McEneff thanked the proprietors for the display of food that they laid on for the hungry sailors, and also thanked Adrian O'Connell from the Royal Western Yacht Club, Kilrush for his organisation.
The September series of racing will be starting on Sunday, September 1 for the five Sunday's in the month. The series is for all classes, please check the website for starting times. All skippers are to ensure that any regular crew participating are fully paid up member's otherwise the vessel will not get a result or points for that race.Skippers are reminded that an entry fee will be due for the series. Member's are asked to be the marina at 1.30pm.
Club Polo shirts and Club burgees are for sale from the bar in the clubhouse.
