Several Galway hookers will join a fleet of finely tuned sailing dinghies on Lough Corrib for Europe’s longest and oldest inland yacht race this weekend.
The Anam Cara and Lon Dubh gleoiteogs which have been restored by the Galway Hooker Sailing Club will participate in the historic race which starts out from Lisloughrey near Ashford Castle on Saturday (June 26).
It is the second year that the club has entered century-old gleoiteogs in the handicapped contest, which follows the old steamship route from the top of Lough Corrib right into the heart of the city at NUI Galway.
Such has been the level of interest in the Cong-Galway that entries had to be capped and a waiting list compiled.
Father and son duo of Yannick and Seán Lemonnier of Galway Bay Sailing Club are reigning Cong Galway champions
Reigning champions have been the father and son duo of Yannick and Seán Lemonnier of Galway Bay Sailing Club.
Yannick Lemonnier (50), managing director of West Coast Sails, is a five-time Figaro sailor with over 90,000 miles sailed mostly solo.
In spite of a dismasting in the English Channel earlier this week, organisers of the Cong Galway race say although he expects to return in time for this year’s event he cannot participate due to COVID quarantine regulations.
Instead, Sean and his best friend Kilian Maithieu will defend the title in a DART 16 catamaran.
Amongst last year's larger boats to complete the Cong-Galway, Cóilín Óg Ó hÍarnáin was first across the finish line in Asurnaí.
The traditional vessel has been in the family for over 50 years and was left to him by his godfather.
Five Galway clubs are hosting this year’s event - Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club, Cumann Seoltoireachta an Spideil, Galway City Sailing Club, Galway Bay Sailing Club and the Galway Hooker Sailing Club.
The race dates back to 1882, when, as organisers point out, the lake was a vital economic artery into the port of Galway and the wider world. The starting point at Lisloughrey reflects the close connections with the Guinness family, former owners of Ashford Castle, as Arthur Guinness was a member of the Royal Galway Yacht Club.
The 30 nautical miles course is split into two legs, crossing the wide expanse of the upper lake and sailing south to the narrows at Kilbeg, near Headford, where crews will come ashore for a lunch break.
The start line for the second leg at 2 pm leads into the “tricky middle section of the waterway”, the organisers state, with the channel being only three feet deep in places and often narrower than a single boat length.
“Unforgiving rocks all around stand ready to ruthlessly punish any errors,” the race organisers warn.
Vantage points for spectators include Knockferry pier, opposite Kilbeg, at 2 pm, and sails will also be spotted from Bushypark, Dangan and Menlo Castle – the castle once being where “the great and the good of Victorian society would gather to cheer home the boats in days of yore”.
One last obstacle which the Victorians did not have to think about is the Quincentennial bridge.
This involves one final capsize for the crews – to ensure their masts are under the bridge structure - before finishing at the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club near NUIG.
