‘Exhilarating racing’ at Lough Owel’s Mirror Western Championships last weekend

There was “exhilarating racing” at Lough Owel from Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 for the 2024 Mirror Western Championships.

Ten boats competed for line honours, including entries from Mullingar, Sligo, Blessington and LDYC.

Four races were held on Saturday, with favourable weather conditions allowing for some exhilarating racing.

Although the sun came out on Sunday, the breeze was less accommodating, and scheduled racing was eventually cancelled due to insufficient wind.

Youth winners of the Killinure Cup were Joris and Annelies Rooney in ‘Blue Away’ of SYC. Overall winners were Caroline and Lucy Coulter, also from SYC.

Mullingar Sailing Club (MSC) expressed their thanks towards event organiser Angela Boyhan, Commodore Róisín Gaynor and “all club members who helped to make this a successful event”.

MSC Adult Sailing Course

MSC have also held a successful adult sailing course over two weekends on June 1-2 and June 15-16.

There were 9 participants in total, and under the expert guidance of the MSC instructor teams, all were deemed confident and capable sailors by the end of the course.

Some of the many items covered on the course were rigging, launch/recovery, tacking/gybing and capsize drills.

The end of the course was marked by a ‘meet the members’ sailing afternoon, followed by a fantastic BBQ at the clubhouse.

They club would like to thank senior instructors Jack Hayes and Darach Milner and their team of instructors, Kasia Gaborec-McEvoy and her VIP style catering team, and all club members who supported “the smooth operation of the course”.

MSC Junior Sailing Courses

Watch out for those radiant red sails on the lake!

MSC’s Junior Sailing Courses, levels 1 to 4 return to Lough Owel from Monday July 1 to Friday July 19.

These courses have been immensely popular in previous years, with no exception this year, as courses have been mostly booked out again.

The courses are designed to take young sailors from novice to expert, while having fun, learning new skills, and making good friends along the way.

MSC ‘Cara na Mara’ Course

The ’Cara na Mara’ Sailing Course (aimed at 6–10-year-old participants) will be held from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th July.

This course is for the smaller sailors and helps them to gain confidence on and around the water, with a week of fun, games and adventure on lough Owel.

Upcoming Club Activities:

Sunday 18th August: Keith Pinder Memorial Plate

Sunday 25th August: MSC Regatta

For more information follow MSC on https://www.mullingarsailingclub.ie/