Despite gale force winds Cullaun Sailing Club was in celebratory mood at its open day on Sunday 8th May. The club based in Kilkishen, Co Clare, had the launch of its fleet of Topper Omegas and blessing of the boats to mark the transition from spring sailing to summer sailing. It was an opportunity for the club to thank the many people who have helped it achieve Leader funding from Clare Local Development Company to purchase the boats and rescue equipment. The club realised that the purchase of boats was a barrier to many people developing an interest in sailing. So with the encouragement of Mike Hogan from Kilkishen Community development association and PJ Hogan from Clare Co. County Council the club put forward an application for leader funding to purchase boats for training purposes. The club received much support from Gloria Callinan in CLDC, Siobhan King in Shannon Development, John Sweeney in Clare Sports Partnership and Denis Dillion of the Irish Sailing Association in its application. Many of whom were on hand to celebrate the Launch.

The club was particularly happy to form links with Sean Hehir of Kilkishen National School and to extend sailing to the children of the area. The club is having an introductory sailing weekend for the senior classes of the school on 11/12th of June and many of the children will be attending the junior sailing course from 4th to 15th July. The adult introductory weekend is scheduled for the 28th/29th of May and already has much interest from the local area and further afield. The advantage of the new fleet means that people can start to sail with only a track suit and runners, allowing greater access to sailing from within the local community.

Father Hugh O'Dowd and Rev. Bob Hanna lead the members and public in a lovely reflection and reading to bless the club and boats for the year. As the weather was too wild for sailing, it was a chance to eat cake, to welcome new members and to chat to people interested in sailing. Club racing will continue on Thursday nights for the summer and novice sailing will commence on Sunday mornings in June. The clubs web site www.cullaunsailingclub.com has a list of forth coming events and may be used to contact the committee.