Entries Coming in Thick and Fast for Cong-Galway Race

12th July 2024

Racing dinghies to Galway hookers and “everything in between” can compete in the Cong-Galway Race and there are two legs with a mid-way break for lunch at Kilbeg pier

Entries are coming in thick and fast for Europe’s longest and oldest dinghy race, the Cong-Galway across Lough Corrib, which is due to take place on August 31st.

As of Friday morning, July 12th, there were 16 spots left, and the fleet is limited to 40 boats for safety reasons.

The organisers say refunds will only be provided before August 17th.

The race runs over a 30-nautical-mile course from Lisloughrey Pier, near Cong at the north end of Lough Corrib, to Galway City.

It follows the old steamer route across the lake.

Finishing the course - which involves several navigational hazards- is regarded as an achievement in itself.

Organised by Corrib Rowing and Yacht Club and Galway Bay Sailing Club, the race is open to all boats with a Portsmouth yardstick number of 1230 or below.

The keelboat fleet is open to keelboats and traditional boats with a length overall of 18 feet or more.

Racing dinghies to Galway hookers and “everything in between” can compete, and there are two legs with a mid-way break for lunch at Kilbeg pier.

The course finishes on the river Corrib close to the city and upriver of the Quincentennial bridge.

Lunch and after-race food are included in the entry fee for the sailors.

Last year, 26 entrants in the dinghy class and six in the cruiser class participated.

Gary Mangan (ISA) won the dinghy class in a Catapult catamaran, with Rob Talbot and Cian de Bairéad of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) coming second in a 420.

Andy Flanagan and Astrid Plaas of Galway Bay SC were third in a Dart 16, while the Port of Galway Sea Scouts crew, helmed by Daniel Concannon with David Schirliu, Aaron Fahy and Lorcan Carron, took first in the cruiser class.

To register, click here

Published in Cong-Galway Race

Tagged under

CongGalway race

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...

The Cong-Galway: Ireland’s oldest inland sailing race

The annual Cong – Galway Sailing Race is Europe’s oldest and longest inland water sailing race.

The original Cong-Galway Race started at the Royal Galway Yachting Club in Galway City and travelled to Ashford Castle in Cong before returning to Galway City, a race distance of 61.5 nautical miles.

The 2020 race is the 137th such race.

The Cong-Galway Race was a huge social event in Galway until 1914. It never recovered after the First World War and was last held in its old format in 1931. The race was later revived in 1972. Now half the original length, the race starts at Lisloughrey pier, near Ashford Castle, and ends just past the Quincentennial Bridge in Galway City.

Cong Galway Race Course

The Cong to Galway Race start is from Lisloughrey Pier in Cong, Co. Mayo and is typically scheduled for 10.30 a.m. on a course through Upper and Lower Lough Corrib to the finish line at Corrib Village on the River Corrib in Galway. The race makes a stop for lunch at Kilbeg Pier, approximately half way, where timings will be taken for the restart.