Saturday's Cong to Galway Sailing Race is Cancelled Due to Weather

23rd June 2022

A scene from the 2021 Cong to Galway Sailing Race. The 2022 race has been cancelled due to strong winds

The Cong Galway Sailing Race Organising Committee emergency meeting held today has cancelled Saturday's annual race due to forecasted strong winds.

"It is regrettable but in the interest and safety of the competitors, rib drivers, volunteers and all involved, the committee has no alternative but to cancel", a spokeswoman told Afloat.

Southerly winds are forecast to reach 40mph during the race times on Saturday.

The race has been rescheduled for Saturday 25th August.

It is 140 years since the inaugural sailing of the race and 50 years since it was revived in its current form. It is the oldest and longest inland sailing race in Europe. It brings together old and new in a unique celebration of history and sailing, which has endeared it to generations of sailors in the West of Ireland and beyond.

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.