During the summer of 1975 Jack Cahill of Castlebar, drafted a letter and had it circulated by the Westport Tourist Office with a view to forming “The Mayo Sailing & Cruising Club”.
The first meeting was attended by 35 people and was at held in the Imperial Hotel Castlebar. A committee was appointed and the current Club name was adopted.
The first, and inaugural, AGM was held in late 1975. Very soon £2,000 was raised and with the aid of a Bord Failte grant, the current club site was purchased, even though at that stage the current ‘Golf Course’ road had yet to be constructed.
Just when the initial impetus of the club started to wane Derek Jago, took up the post of County Architect with Mayo County Council in 1977. Derek was a hugely experienced international sailor and was instrumental in establishing a large and enthusiastic Laser Dingy fleet.
Rosmoney Pier was developed in 1978 and with the subsequent opening of the Golf Course road, the siting of the new club in Rosmoney proved to be inspired.
Derek then designed a modest clubhouse which was officially opened in 1984.
The tale of the history of Mayo Sailing Club would not be complete without a mention of Glenans Sailing Centre which was establish on Collanmore Island shortly afterwards and remained a vibrant part of the sailing infrastructure until its closure in 2013.
Gradually over the years from the mid 80’s the club had an ever expanding cruiser fleet and the modest Clubhouse was soon found wanting. So circa the millennium plans were made for a major expansion of the infrastructure of the shore based assets of the club. This culminated in the present structure being officially opened in 2004.
The club has a vibrant underage section and had produced many an excellent sailor over the years. The club is a hive of activity in the summer months with the weekly courses always over subscribed. A really great example of this occurred in 2023 when 2 club members were part of the crew of Headcase, a J24, which became European Champions and attained 4th in the World.
Well done Marcus Ryan & Louis Molloy.
Over the years many a national sailing event has been hosted by the club.
WIORA last came to Mayo in 2014 and the club looks forward to hosting WIORA in 2025 as part of our 50th year celebrations. 18th – 21st Jun 2025.
The establishment in the late naughties of an anemometer on Inislyre (Courtesy of the Gibbons Family) proved to by a hugely popular move as the general population in the Clew Bay Area tune into this facility to get a very local weather situation.
Another great innovation by the club was the construction 10 years ago, of a substantial pontoon of the Western end of Rosmoney Pier. This allows, not alone club sailors, but Clew Bay Island residents to embark/disembark from their craft safely.
Cruiser racing in Mayo Sailing Club reached its height ten years ago when each Thursday night there were three vibrant Cruiser fleets racing. Like all clubs in the country, the cruiser fleet has reduced somewhat from its height but in Mayo a new phenomenon occurred: The growth of a Ruffian Fleet. The club now boasts 18 Ruffians with 12 racing regularly every Thursday night so instead of a decreased membership Mayo Sailing Club has increased its membership and is looking forward to the years ahead with great confidence.