Galway Bay Sailing Club’s (GBSC) Alan Henry and Alan Stamp sailed their Fireball into first place in the PY fleet in this year’s Cong-Galway race.
Rónán and Oisín Kelly took first in the keelboat fleet in a Flying Fifteen, sailing under the burgees of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) and Flying Fifteens Chonamara (FFC). There was keen competition in this year’s race, held in light winds in late August on a rescheduled date due to weather.
The 30 nautical mile contest, known as Europe’s oldest and longest inland waterway sailing race, extends from Lisloughrey Pier in Cong, Co Mayo, to the finish line on the River Corrib in Galway city.
In the words of sailor John Barry, light northerly winds led race officer Aoife Lyons to set a short windward leg, before the fleet turned south and hoisted all available canvas for a broad reach southeast to Kilbeg.
“Tim Breen and Cialan Lohan from GBSC were the first boat across the line at Kilbeg at the end of leg 1 in an F18. However, on corrected time it was the IDRA14 travelling from Howth who came out on top in the PY fleet,” Barry says. “Second on corrected time was the 420 of Seán Lemonnier and Killian Mathieu while David Dickson, Anna Leech and Orla Martin in a Shannon One Design were third,” he says.
“Due to the light airs, the first leg for the keelboat fleet was shortened. On corrected time, Donnacha Quilty and Mike Mooney of CSS, in their Swallow Yachts Bayraider 20, were leading over lunch, with Rónán Kelly accompanied by the youngest sailor in the fleet, Oisín Kelly, sailing a Flying Fifteen in second,” he says.
Long way home: Four DART16 on the long tow down to Galway City
“The Port of Galway Sea Scouts were lying in third in a Hawk 20.”
“After a general recall for the dinghy fleet, the breeze held up as the boats made their way towards the narrow passage south of Kilbeg.” “However, as the wind faded, the course had to be shortened, and the boats towed back to Galway for a well-earned dinner and a chance to socialise in the historic surroundings of the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club,” he says.
Alan Henry, overall winner with Alan Stamp, recalls that “with a light breeze, the aim of the game was to find clean air and stay ahead of the pack, which was not easy while following the old steamer route.”
Through the gates: Tight squeeze through one of the many gates on the Steamer Route course
“With water levels lower than usual after a hot, dry summer, boats trying to skirt the edge of the channel were quickly reminded of the strictness of the course,”he says.
In the second leg, with the forecast for even less wind, Henry says that “finding clear air in a tight channel was tricky again”.
“Yannick Lemonnier and Emily Clarke (GBSC) in the DART16 started at the boat end and seemed to manage to escape the pack, with David Dickson, Anna Leech and Orla Martin in the Shannon One Design (LRYC) and Tim Breen and Cialan Lohan (GBSC) in the F18 chasing them down”.
Henry and fellow sailor Alan Stamp of GBSC in the Fireball had “started at the pin end, thinking clean air over their port side was the call, but the Galway traffic had other ideas”.
However, they managed to find a way through to lead over a finish line shortening the course at Illaunaneel, near Annaghdown pier, he says.
“The wind dropped completely to nothing within 20 minutes, the chasing pack just got through followed by a very determined IDRA14 sailed by Ryan Cairns and Orla Doogue (Howth YC),” he says. “From there it was a waiting game, and most of the fleet decided that the food and pints in Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club (CRYC) would be the preferred option and called for a tow”.
Wind disappears: Flat calm on Lower Lough Corrib
He says the IDRA14 of Alan Carr and Dan Kinlay (HYC) and the 420 of Sean Lemonnier and Killian Mathieu (GBSC) were “the only ones to stick it out until the race timed out.”
The race was hosted by five clubs – GBSC, CSS, Galway City Sailing Club, CRYC and Galway Hooker Sailing Club – and there was great co-operation among them. Tributes have also been paid to the many volunteers who made the event such a success.
Cong-Galway 2026 Results
PY fleet
1st - Alan Henry and Alan Stamp (GBSC) in a Fireball
2nd - David Dickson, Anna Leech and Orla Martin (LRYC) in a Shannon One Design
3rd - Yannick Lemonnier and Emily Clarke (GBSC) in a Dart 16
Fireball winners: Patsy Casserly, president of CRYC, presenting Dinghy Winners Alan Henry and Alan Stamp from Galway Bay Sailing Club
Keelboat Fleet
1st - Ronan and Oisín Kelly (Connemara) in a Flying Fifteen
Keelboat honours: Patsy Casserly, president of Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club (CRYC), presenting Keelboat winners Rónán and Oisin Kelly from Connemara - Oisín was also the youngest sailor this year
