The Great Celtic Cruise Adventure July 2019 - Westport Galway Kinsale - Kinsale Yacht Club

The Great Celtic Cruise Adventure July 2019
           Westport

          Galway

                   Kinsale

                             Scilly Isles

                                                            Lorient
                                            Isle de Groix

1.0 m

            GAILLIMH
        - LORIENT
            Iúil 2019
2.0 m

                            The flashy Battle Flags to be flown by all
                            33 boats in the fleet as they motor into
                     1.5m      Lorient Harbour on the 20th July !!

Lorient, Brittany was the first city to sign up as a twin to the proud citizens of Galway as far back as 1975. It was a statement of friendship and a commitment to
exchange cultural experiences between the citizens of both centres, and it has lasted the test of the last five decades.

Both cities have long and proud maritime histories. They also have very strong cultural ties as they both share vibrant Celtic roots. Celtic culture is still very evident in
both cites through the everyday use of Gaeilge, Breton, traditional music, dance and the arts.

Co-incidentally, both cities are also the western outposts of their respective countries, surrounded by natural beauty. They have been fishing ports for centuries. They
are both aware of the bounties and the threats imposed by the wild Atlantic. This shared life experience made for a good twinning. Obviously sailing, from traditional
vessels to modern yachts is a passion dear to both.

Sailing fleets from both cities joined forces for a number of very successful events during the 70’s and 80’s but unfortunately the tradition died away subsequently.
These sailing adventures started with the northbound departure of a fleet of yachts from Lorient Harbour. After crossing the Celtic Sea and passing by the south west
coast of Ireland, the fleet arrived into Galway for some serious partying! In Galway, the French boats were joined a Galway fleet to form a formidable flotilla for the
southbound journey to Lorient. There, the mother of all parties ensued.

Enda O Coineen was the catalyst to motivate JeanGab Samzun from Lorient and Cormac Mac Donncha from Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) to join forces last summer
in an effort to revive the event in 2019. The West of Ireland sailing community, from Westport to Kilrush grabbed the idea with both hands.

Both city councils have rowed in behind the idea. Mayor of Galway, Niall McNellis, has been a big supporter. Events have been planned for the Harbour Hotel on the
eve of the departure from Galway docks on the 11th July and also at the docks marina on the day of departure, 12th July. For the 2019 event, the French team are again
pulling out all the stops with plans to fly some Irish dancers in from Galway for the occasion.

The two cities have signed up 33 skippers, mostly from the West of Ireland, to join the craic. There has been great support from our neighbouring clubs in Mayo and
Clare as well as boats from Lough Derg clubs. The Galway boats to register, from Rosamhil Marina, Galway City Sailing Club, Galway Docks Marina and GBSC have
already reached 17. There is a healthy fleet of 6 joining from Westport with 4 boats from Lorient. Another 6 are joining from Kilrush, Lough Derg and Cork.

A number of well known West of Ireland sailors have signed up for the trip including Westports Jarleth Cunnane of Northabout renown as well as Dr Michael Brogan
from Kinvarra. Michael plans to skipper the infamous Galway Hooker, MacDuach, to France. Unfortunately the intrepid explorer, from the Killary Adventure Centre,
Jamie Young, who had been one of our first volunteers for the event had to pull out due to a commitment to produce a TV documentary centred on a trip from Galway
to Greenland which arose earlier this year.

The committee are very grateful for the warm welcome received from the folks at Kinsale Yacht Club, as well as the Harbour Master in the Scilly Isles and of course to
the Lorient City club for organising events on Ile De Groix and in Lorient Harbour. Thanks also is due to event sponsors ThermoKing, Galway.

A popular and active poetry website hosted by both cities ….

Of course both cities collaborated to run the final leg of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race which ended in Galway Docks 3rd July 2012

                            Galway, 3rd July 2012

LORIENT   The well know U boat shelter in Lorient Harbour

Proprietors : Paraic & Nadia Larkin, Salthill

For the Wesport Boats …
                       1300 NMiles !!

Leg 0    Rosmoney Westport to Galway      91 Nm

Proposed Outbound Schedule, July 2019 :
Dep Westport       Thur 11th 0600
Arrive Galway      Arr 12th 0600

Leg 1    Galway to Kinsale            219 Nm
Leg 2    Kinsale to Isles of Scilly   131 Nm
Leg 3    Scillys to Lorient           203 Nm
Total                                 553 Nm
Proposed Outbound Schedule, July 2019 :
Dep Galway         Fri 12th 1200
Arrive Kinsale     Sun 14th 1200

Dep Kinsale           Mon 15th 0600
Arr Scilly            Tue 16th 0800

Dep Scilly            Thur 18th 0600
Arr Groix (Port Trudy)Sat 20th B’ween 0600 & 1600
Dep Groix             Sat 20th 1600
Arr Lorient           Sat 20th 1800

The Great Celtic Cruise Adventure July 2019
           Westport

          Galway

                   Kinsale

                             Scilly Isles

                                                            Lorient
                                            Isle de Groix