Cong-Galway Race Postponed to August 29th

25th June 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Waiting Game — Catamarans lie alongside Kilcolgan Pier during the 2025 Cong-Galway Race. This year's historic inland waterway contest has been postponed until August 29 due to forecast weather

The Cong-Galway race has been postponed due to weather until August 29th.

The race had been set for this Saturday, June 27th, but an adverse weather forecast has forced deferral to a later date.

Over 30 boats were expected to compete in the contest, billed as the long inland waterways sailing race in Europe, dating back to 1882.

It runs over two legs from the top of Lough Corrib at Cong and down the full length of the river to the city.

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 fleet is open to keelboats and traditional boats with a length overall of greater than 18 feet.

The race comprises a variety of boats from racing dinghies to Galway Hookers and everything in between.

Published in Cong-Galway Race

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Cong-Galway Race

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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.