Bantry's Longboat Crew Second Overall And Rowing Champions At Atlantic Challenge 2024 at Belfast in Maine

5th August 2024

Not something to be undertaken lightly: Bantry's own 8-oar longboat Unite in action at Belfast, Maine

Not something to be undertaken lightly: Bantry's own 10-oar longboat Unite in action at Belfast, Maine

Skibbereen is not the only town in West Cork that encourages the development of world class rowing. On the other side of the hills at Bantry, racing the local duo of Bantry Longboats - based on the famous 1796 French gig, which is now in the National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin - is a top priority. And after an early season of intensive training, the challenging logistics of getting one of Bantry's own longboats - the Unite - to Belfast in Maine, USA for the International Atlantic Challenge 2024 at the end of July was successfully completed.

The crew then put in a performance worthy of the high level of support they were receiving at home, winning the Rowing Division outright, and doing well enough in the Sailing (when rigged, the Longboat carries lugsails on three masts) to finish second overall in a very challenging contest that drew in many competitors from both sides of the Atlantic.

More good news for West Cork rowing -the Division Winning Longboat Crew from Bantry in Belfast, Maine

Published in Coastal Rowing

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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