Fresh Sailing Conditions in Galway Bay for Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil Regatta

17th September 2024

Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) 2024 Regatta first place Novice fleet and CSS Shield winners Diarmuid Canavan and Cameron Harris of CSS Credit: Simon Riggott

Sailors from Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) and Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) experienced lively conditions during the CSS annual regatta in An Spidéil last Sunday.

Light southerly to south-westerlies had been promised, but wind direction was westerly at 12 to 15 knots by the time racing was well underway.

Five mixed-class dinghies competed in the Novice category in the morning under the supervision of race officer Stephen O’Gorman.

First after three races were Diarmuid Canavan and Cameron Harris of CSS, and second were Ornaith and Sadhbh Quilty of CSS, while their clubmate Sean Ó Conghaíle was third.

A mixed fleet in the afternoon provided a spectacle for those onshore, with classes ranging from Laurik Mathieu’s Dart 16 to a fleet of ten 420s, along with Picos, Topazes and six GBSC Optimists.

Four races were run by Stephen O’Gorman, with one discard.

First in the 420 fleet, also securing the CSS Commodore Cup, were Seán Lemonier and Killian Mathieu of GBSC.

CSS 2024 regatta first 420 fleet and Commodore Cup Sean Lemonier and Killian Matthieu of Galway Bay SC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

CSS 2024 Regatta second in 420 fleet Sam Riley and Jack Ganley of Galway Bay SC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

Second in the 420 fleet were Sam Riley and Jack Ganley of GBSC, and third were Michael Minogue and Rian Baynes, also of GBSC.

CSS 2024 Regatta third in 420 fleet Michael Minogue and Rian Baynes of Galway Bay SC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

First in the Mixed fleet were Sarah Donald and Sarah MacAodha of CSS.

CSS 2024 Regatta first in Mixed fleet Sarah Donald and Sarah MacAodha of CSS at the at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

Second in the Mixed fleet were Rory McHale and Sean Ó Conghaíle of CSS, while third was Liam Riggott of CSS.

GBSC’s six Optimists held their own in closely contested racing, with prizes kindly donated by the Rinville club. First place was taken by Edward Fitzmaurice.

CSS 2024 Regatta first Oppie Edward Fitzmaurice GBSC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

Second was GBSC’s Niamh Baynes, and third Oppie was her clubmate Jake Molloy.

CSS 2024 Regatta second Oppie Niamh Baynes GBSC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

CSS 2024 Regatta third Oppie Jake Molloy GBSC at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta in An Spidéil Photo: Simon Riggott

Prizes were presented by CSS commodore Jamie Donald, who congratulated all those who had taken to the water, thanked GBSC for travelling over and paid tribute to all the club volunteers who ensured the event was such a success.

Published in Galway Harbour, Connemara

Published in Galway Harbour

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

Galway Port & Harbour

Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city and port is located on the northeast side of the bay. The bay is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and from 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to 30 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth.

The Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay.

Galway Port FAQs

How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020. Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.