Cong Galway Race
The popular Cong Galway race takes place once a year.
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The course follows the old steamer route from Lisloughrey pier near Cong to the city of Galway, which is about 30 nautical miles in total. The race starts in the picturesque shadow of Ashford Castle at the northern end of the lake.
It is raced as two legs.
The first leg finishes at Kilbeg, where competitors can pause for lunch and refreshments. The second leg is via a narrower channel in the lower lake and on to the river with the finish line at Corrib Village.
The race is organised by all the local sailing clubs – Corrib Rowing and Yacht Club, Galway Bay Sailing Club, Galway City Sailing Club, Cumann Seoltóireachta An Spidéil and the Galway Hooker Sailing Club. The race is open to all sailors from all parts of the world – but most of the participants are Irish.
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The fleet is limited to a maximum of 40 boats and comprises a variety of boats from racing dinghies to Galway Hookers and everything in between.
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A bus brings participants from Galway to Cong on the morning of the event to enable sailors to leave trailers and cars in Galway for recovery & transport after the event.
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Lunch and after race food are included in the entry for the sailors.
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The guiding principles of regulatory compliance, risk assessment, self-help, and personal responsibility will apply for all participants.
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Read about reports of the race on Afloat.ie
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Amendment to Sailing Instructions 30/08/24
Amendment to Rule 8 Paragraph 1. Add the following text.
With an easterly, south easterly or north easterly wind there will be no windward mark. After the start, the path finder boat with a large flag will direct fleet towards gap between Inchagoill island (which must be left to starboard) and Inishannagh island (which must be left to port) before joining steamer route now marked with new Green & Red buoys.
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