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.

Europe’s oldest and longest inland sailing race is part of the history of the West Coast of Ireland.

The history of Galway itself claims that Ptolemy, the astronomer and mathematician born in 100 AD at Alexandria in Egypt and who began the belief that Earth was at the centre of the Universe even referred to Western Lakes in the 2nd century and that was before, as Galway people will tell you, Columbus arrived in Galway Port to recruit sailors for his explorations!

Archaeologists have discovered boats and artefacts in Lough Corrib which date back to pre-historic times while the unique race that is held there in two parts on one-day dates back only as far as 1882, but is still the oldest and longest inland sailing race in Europe. When started by the then Royal Galway Yacht Club from the Fisheries Field it went to Ashford Castle and back, a distance of 61 nautical miles. That continued annually until 1914 when it was affected by the rigours of the First World War and was last sailed in 1931.

Boats of all shapes and sizes, including catamarans, compete in the Cong Galway Race

The race is now known as ‘The Cong-Galway’ and Galway Bay Sailing Club, 50 years old is involved in organising it with the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club, Galway City Sailing Club and Cumann Seoltoireacht and Spideil. The Galway Hooker Sailing Club will be racing in those iconic boats. Revived back in 1972, it will be sailed on Sunday, June 27.

My Podcast guest this week is John Barry of Galway Bay Sailing Club, one of the organisers of the race:

Listen to Podcast below

After a tremendous race last year, despite challenging conditions both on and off the water, another hugely competitive fleet has been assembled for this year's Cong Galway Race on June 26th.

The historic race from Lisloughrey in the shadow of Ashford Castle to the heart of Galway City has been attracting the cream of sailing talent in the West since 1882.

This year's unique historic event - the oldest and longest inland sailing race in Europe 30 nautical miles - will take place on Saturday, June 26th.

As Afloat reported last year, taking the top spot in 2020 was Sean and Yannick Lemonnier of Galway Bay Sailing Club, making it three-in-a-row for the father and son duo, who won a luxurious night at the 5-star Ashford Castle for their skilled sailing endeavours.

Taking the top spot this year at the annual Cong Galway Boat Race was Sean and Yannick Lemonnier of Galway Bay Sailing Club, making it three-in-a-row for the father and son duo, who won a luxurious night at the 5-star Ashford Castle for their skilled sailing endeavours.

The Race, sponsored by Ashford Estate, took place last weekend against a backdrop of challenging weather conditions.

Second place was awarded to Gary Mangan and Thomas Mills of Blessington Sailing Club, who won a night at the sister hotel, The Lodge at Ashford.

Cong-Galway Race 2020

Setting off a day later than planned, the high winds and choppy water didn’t put racegoers off, with a bumper fleet of 40 boats registered for the competition. There was strong representation from local clubs including Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club, Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil, Galway City Sailing Club and Galway Bay Sailing Club.

The dinghies get underway in the 2020 edition of the Cong Galway race

The longest inland boat race in Europe, The Cong Galway Boat Race started in the picturesque shadow of Ashford Castle at the northern end of Lough Corrib and followed the old steamer route to the city of Galway. Strong winds greeted the competitive fleet as they set off from Lisloughrey Pier. There were very few dry sailors as the boats picked up speed from the windward mark and made their way to the halfway point at Kilbeg.

First across the line at Kilbeg Pier were Yannick and Seán Lemonnier in a time of 54 minutes and 34 seconds, pipping Gary Mangan and Thomas Mills by 28 seconds. Amongst the larger boats, Cóilín Óg Hernon led the way in the gleoiteog Asurnaí, ahead of the Manta 19 of Connor Little and the second gleoiteog, Anam Cara, where Jonathan Curran was at the helm.

After a well-earned break at Kilbeg, the boats faced into the tricky, twisty narrow channel to the lower lake. With no sign of the winds abating, there were several altercations between rock and boat, with the rocks invariably coming out better. After navigating the lower lake and moving into the river Corrib, competitors quickly made their way to the finish line with help of favourable winds.

The 2020 Winners: Yannick and Sean Lemonnier

The winners in the dinghy fleet were determined based on the Portsmouth handicap scheme with Yannick and Seán Lemonnier of Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) awarded first place. As the overall winners, Yannick and Sean were presented with the CRYC trophy as well as a stay in Ashford Castle, presented by Paula Carroll, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford.

Peter Fergus, Thomas Mills, Gary Mangan, Paula Carroll, Leo Leonard (President, CRYC)

Second place, and winner of a stay in the Lodge at Ashford, was Gary Mangan of Blessington Sailing Club and his crew Thomas Mills. The prize was presented by Peter Fergus, Hotel Manager of the Lodge at Ashford.

Third place and first monohull was awarded to Rob Talbot of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil and NUIG alongside his crew, Rian De Bairéad of Galway City Sailing Club.

Peter Fergus, Cóilín Óg Hernon (skipper of Asurnaí), Paula Carroll, Leo Leonard

First gleoiteog /cruiser was awarded to Asurnaí, skippered by Coilín Óg Hernon of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club.

John Barry, Secretary of Galway Bay Sailing Club, is quite right! Racing down the Corrib from Cong to Galway is "not for the faint-hearted."

There are plenty of challenges and obstacles along the route. From my own experience, the Cong to Galway Race is both highly competitive and a special maritime occasion, with a great variety of scenery as boats speed down the Upper and Lower Loughs, that's if the crews have time to notice it!

To complete what is the longest race on inland waterways in Europe and the oldest such race in Ireland is a great achievement. It once rivalled the equine Galway Races!

As Afloat reported previously, next Saturday, August 22, it's due to be held again, the 137th race. Four Galway maritime clubs are organising it and Ashford Castle is involved, all connecting with the great maritime history of Galway and the Corrib, which there was once a plan to link with Lough Mask by a canal. The first canal in Ireland was cut in the 12th century. The Friar's Cut allowed boats to pass from Lough Corrib to the sea at Galway. Lough Corrib also had its own steamboat ferry services.

The Cong to Galway Race start is from Lisloughrey Pier in Cong, Co. Mayo and is 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. Transport will be available to take participants from Galway to Lisloughrey for the start so that sailors can leave trailers and cars in Galway for recovery and transport after the event. The race will make a stop for lunch at Kilbeg Pier, approximately half ways, where timings will be taken for the restart.

If the weather forecast for Saturday indicates that the race cannot be run safely, it may be postponed until the same time on Sunday or another later date. A decision will be made, the organisers say, by midday on Friday. Covid 19 provisions relating to sailing will be in effect and entrants must also abide by the "Check, Clean and Dry" principles when transporting boats to and from Lough Corrib. Portsmouth Yardstick 2020 handicap numbers will apply.

John Barry is my guest on this week's Podcast, discussing the history of the Cong to Galway Race which dates back to 1882.

Listen to this week's Podcast below