The Cong Galway race has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions and will now take place on August 29th. The decision has been made in the interest of safety following an unfavourable forecast for the original race date of Saturday, June 27th.
The event is expected to attract more than 30 boats and remains one of the most distinctive inland sailing challenges on the calendar. Often regarded as the longest inland waterways sailing race in Europe, the competition has a long heritage dating back to 1882 and continues to draw a wide and diverse fleet each year.
The course runs over two legs, beginning at the top of Lough Corrib in Cong and continuing down the full length of the river into Galway city. It provides a unique test of boat handling, navigation, and endurance across varying inland water conditions.
The dinghy class is open to boats with an overall length of 18 ft or less and a Portsmouth Yardstick Number of 1230 or below. The keelboat fleet welcomes keelboats and traditional boats with an overall length greater than 18 ft, ensuring a broad mix of craft on the water.
The race regularly features a varied fleet, ranging from modern racing dinghies to traditional Galway Hookers and many other craft in between. This diversity continues to be one of the defining features of the event, reflecting both its history and its importance within Irish inland sailing.
Irish Sailing looks forward to welcoming competitors to Cong Galway on the rescheduled date in August. Keep up to date with information here.