Cong-Galway Registration Deadline Next Weekend With Almost 40 Entries To Date

16th June 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Boats prepare for the Cong-Galway race, the longest inland water sailing event in Europe, set to take place on June 28th. A vibrant mix of history and competition on Lough Corrib awaits!

With almost 40 boats signed up, there’s just a week to register for the last few places in this year’s Cong-Galway race on Saturday, June 28th.

The longest inland water sailing race in Europe runs over a 30 nautical mile course, from Lisloughrey pier near Cong at the north of Lough Corrib to Galway city.

It has two legs, breaking for lunch at the “narrows” on the lake at Kilbeg pier.

As public relations officer Collette Furey recalls, the race is steeped in history,having originally run as a round trip from Galway to Cong and back again - a distance of over 60 nautical miles.

It was founded by Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club in 1882. Paused after 1931, it was revived in 1972 and has become a “beloved annual tradition” ever since.

In recent years, it has welcomed a growing fleet of cruiser and Galway hookers, along with dinghies of all classes.

The dinghy race is open to boats with overall length of 18 ft or less, with Portsmouth yardstick number of 1230 or below.

The keelboat section is open to keelboats and traditional craft with an overall length greater than 18 ft.

A coalition of Galway clubs are involved in the organisation of the event – Galway Bay Sailing Club (SC), Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club, Galway City SC, Galway Hooker SC and Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéal.

Spectators are welcome along the race route and at the towpath at the University of Galway’s Corrib Village.

Prize giving will take place at Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club, and main sponsors are Ashford Castle and McHugh Property Holdings.

There is a separate booking system for the friends and family meal after the event.

Race registration is here and Notice of Race here

Published in Cong-Galway Race

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CongGalway

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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.