Category Archives: Sailing

The Vikings are coming to the Claddagh Traditional Boat Festival

Just spreading the word about the Claddagh Traditional Boat Festival to be held May 24th to 28th, 2017. Poster and Press Release for event below!

Vikings v Hookers

The Vikings are coming to the Claddagh Traditional Boat Festival

The Vikings are coming to the Claddagh Traditional Boat Festival

Read All About Vikings v Hookers

Claddagh Traditional Boat Festival – Download Press Release (PDF)

Galway Hooker Restoration with The Claddagh Boatmen

This week we spent a lovely evening learning about the restoration of Galway Hookers by the The Claddagh Boatmen (Bádóirí an Cladaig).

We took a boat trip from the Claddagh across the Corrib via the Mud Dock to the lay-by near the Galway Lifeboat Station. From there we went to Galway Ocean Sports Club to meet the Claddagh Boatmen and view the restoration project and learn about the Galway Hooker fleet.

Mud Dock Galway

During the session a question arose regarding the history of what is known as the Mud Dock. Rob Murphy kindly researched its origin..

On the 1651 map there is just a sea wall where the long walk is now, with no buildings after the Spanish Arch. On a 1747 map the mud dock is there, at the end of the sea wall, but the docks as we know it had not been built, so just a bay/swamp in that area. So there you have it, the mud dock was built between 1691 and 1747. The commercial docks was built in 1842, so the mud dock pre-dates it by between circa 100 to 150 years.

Pictures Speak Louder Than Words

You can visit The Claddagh Boatmen site here: www.claddaghboatmen.com

Galway Hookers, History & Sailing

I am attending a course at GTI to learn about Galway Hookers, their history, crew skills and of course how to sail them. Last Wednesday we were taken on a field trip to the Claddagh Cottage on Fairhill Road and given a talk by Brian Nolan of Galway Walks, a self confessed Folklore, Myth & History talker. The talk was very engaging, upbeat, a lot of fun and enjoyed by all who attended.

I’d say Brian’s walking tours are great – they start at bars in Eyre square and Salthill! I will be recommending both Brian and a trip to Katies Cottage to all my visitors in the future.

You can visit Brian’s Website here.

Next week we get to meet the Claddagh Boatmen who are restoring and repairing Hookers at the mouth of the Corrib.

DIY Apparent Wind Indicator – Home made wind indicator for sailing boat

The winter storms deprived us of sailing opportunities and also one wind indicator from the top of my mast. Been buying one every two seasons or so, this year no more – I’m going to make my own. This looks like a good place to start. Will post photo of my finished DIY Wind Indicator when complete.

Saturday Spinnaker Sailing with Sport 14

Saturday Spinnaker Sailing with Sport 14