CLIFDEN BOAT CLUB TO HOST W.I.O.R.A in 2007 !
Clifden Boat Club is delighted to be hosting the 2007 W.I.O.R.A meeting.
Information about this event is available here.

The two day Event got under way at midday on Saturday 12th August with just under 30 yachts competing in three separate classes. Yachts had come from all over the west coast to take part, some using the opportunity to sail in the O'Sullivans Marine 100 mile race the previous weekend to make the journey to Clifden a potential prizewinner.
Conditions were perfect for racing with 20kts of wind and plenty of sunshine when OOD Eddie Cats set the marks for the first race, and a very competitive afternoon of racing was had. It can be seen from the results and times that there was some very close competition.

Two windward/leeward courses were run on Saturday, and a very exhilarated gang of competitors came ashore to await the results of the first days sailing, enjoying a mountain of barbeque food and a few pints at the clubhouse as well. While the yachts were at sea dinghy races took place and some exciting competition was had there too with a very mixed fleet of craft crewed by some keen and able youngsters.

Despite the forecast of wet weather, Sunday was fine and sunny with a stiff breeze of wind blowing a shade west of north. Today there were shore activities for the family such as face painting and welly throwing. Also two more dinghy races took place.
The first yacht race was again windward/leeward which more than warmed everybody up for a coastal race around Cruagh Island ( which is north-west of Clifden Bay).
Class 3 on Sunday had a general recall on the first race which made their start very exciting.
At the start of the coastal race the wind freshened just before the gun to make a challenging start to the race, things resulted in general recall and restart. After the restart the boats stayed bunched together for the early part of the race and then a number of the yachts tacked inshore others coosing an offshore course, which then spread the fleet out and by the time they rounded Cruagh Island for the downwind leg they were well spread.
On the downwind leg back to Clifden Bay there were a lot of colourful spinnakers flying. The finish line for this race was under the Clubhouse and spectators were treated to the sight of the fleet running at full speed downwind to the finish under spinnakers.
A patient crowd of sailors and competitors alike waited on the final details of the results. The prize-giving took place at half past seven with Paul Ryan and Commodore Julia Awcock presenting a mountain of prizes to the winners in front of a rowdy and appreciative audience.

The event was a great success, and would not have been possible without our sponsors (Please read the list here) and those that gave their time and effort to organize the event. Also a huge thank-you to the many boats which came to compete. The main winners are listed below, and all results are listed here.

IRC Overall Winner: Disaray Western Yacht Club. Raymond Mc Gibney. OPEN YACHT CHALLENGE CUP

ECHO overall winner: Egalite Clifden Boat Club. David Griffin. KINGSTOWN CUP

IRC Results:

Winners Class 1
1st Catalpa Tommy Smith
2nd Chaos Thomas Whelan
3rd AWOL Liam Burke

Winners Class 2
1st Disaray Raymond and Simon McGibney
2nd Quelle Surprise Henry Lupton
3rd Crozz Gerry Daly

Winners Class 3
1st RhoCoDar Thomas Furey
2nd Hallmark Jackie Ward
3rd Siamsa 11 David Kavanagh

ECHO Results:

Winners Class 1
1st AWOL Liam Burke
2nd Catalpa Tommy Smith
3rd Marissa IX Rob Allen

Winners Class 2
1st Egalite David Griffin
2nd Boojum D Buckley
3rd Commotion Hartnet/McMahon

Winners Class 3
1st Misty Donal O'Scannaill
2nd Rhocodar Thomas Furey
3rd Siamsa 11 David Kavanagh

FULL RESULTS FOR ALL CLASSES LISTED HERE

Race sponsors: Hotel Alcock and Brown, Guys Bar, Off The Square Restaurant, Station House Hotel
 Mooring sponsors: Brian Hehir Drapery, John Brittan Blue Water Fishing , John Joe Corbett (two moorings) John Ryan Deep Sea Fishing, Clifden Service Station, Declan Mannion Chartered Accountants,
Design Platform, Choo Choo, P&B Pryce Hardware, Mitchell's Restaurant, The Atlantic Hotel, Foyle's Hotel Super Valu, Noreen Casey, Mannion's Bar, Moran's Pharmacy, Derry Clare Restaurant , Connemara Mobile Catering, John Stanley Drapery, Faon Tuath, “The Outdoor Shop”, Paddy and Julia Foyle, Quay House, Walsh's Bakery and Coffee Shop

 General Sponsors, Dooneen Lodge, Martin Action, The Celtic Shop, Waterloo Guest House,
Buttermilk Lodge Guest House, AIB Bank, White Heather House, The celtic shop, Western Veterinary Clinic,
Matt O Sullivan Auctioneers, John O Brien Auctioneers, Mark King, Walsh's Bakery and Coffee Shop, Kris's Discount Store, Connemara Hamper, Vaughans Bar, Clifden Furniture Store, Ni Raighne Optitions, An Bhean Feasa, Cullen's Coffee Shop, Seamus Kelly Butchers, Lowry's Shop, Walsh's Emporium, Monica Dukes, The Connemara Pottery, Ben View House, Kingstown House, Mannion's Bicycle Hire, Clifden Second Hand book Shop, Eamon McLoughlin Auctioneers, Ferguson 's Fine Wine, Derval Joyce, The Paper Shop, An Siopa Deas,
Emer Joyce