The country’s young sailors treated observers to a feast of sailing action on Galway Bay recently for the Optimist Connacht Championships, which saw 98 competing boats with sailors ranging in age from 7 to 14 take to the water from Rinville in Oranmore.

The maritime and sailing community from a whole range of clubs, community groups and institutions around the Bay who came together to provide the logistical, management and safety support for such a significant event were well rewarded with top quality sailing on display in really competitive races and some strong showings from local sailors.

The event was hosted from Galway Bay Sailing Club, which is based in Rinville, and visiting sailors camping at the club were woken on Saturday morning by bright sunlight streaming into the tents.

The fresh westerly breeze provided ideal conditions for racing and there was a buzz of excitement and anticipation as competing boats were rigged and the safety and race management teams finalised preparations and took to the water.

The action got underway at 11am when the D flag was hoisted at the front of the clubhouse and the fleet took to the water. Despite sailing into the wind, the main fleet quickly made their way from the slip at Rinville to the race area south of Renmore.

With the fresh breeze, race officer John Leech and his team were able to set the marks for the course over a broad area and the racing got underway amidst the usual jostling for position on a busy start line.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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