Storm Floris may have put paid to many sailing plans yesterday (Bank Holiday Monday), but in the weekend of Friday-Saturday-Sunday, there was good sailing, if a bit lively at times. Galway Bay SC's annual Connemara venture (aka the Lambs' Cruise) managed to get out across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands before some scampered home to GBSC shelter on Sunday evening, though others found Kilronan snug enough to stay.
In all, eighteen yachts arrived into Rossaveal as an interim port on the Friday night to find facilities are continuing to improve so much - both harbour and marina-wise - that Galway Maritime were able to host a reception for 70 sailors organised by Fergal Lyons and Karl Rheinhart in the recently-finished Marina Offices & Service Block.
The new Marina Office and Service Block at Rossaveal
Saturday saw the fleet making further westing to Kilkieran to enjoy the hospitality of Coyne's and other attractions, then Sunday was a busy day, as boats and crews wanted to make their mark out at Kilronan, yet there were those who planned to be safely home in Rinville before the storm hit.
Frankie Leonard's Contessa 32 Roamer in Kilkieran. His crew were his wife Zara and three-month-old son Finn
In other words, it was a day of big mileages. But all the boxes were ticked, the parties were excellent, and everyone was in shelter when Floris arrived.
Commodore Pat Irwin's X Boat Tux, with crew Anton Morris and Alan Donnelly. For many years, Tux was raced in Crosshaven by Mary O'Keeffe, who was originally from Fenit, where she raced a Club Shamrock with her late husband Tom.
The Westerly Medway 36 Horta bound for the islands – she is cruised extensively by Niall and Emer Cosgrove and family
