History of BBSC

Bantry Bay Sailing Club was founded in the late 19th century, the exact date is unknown. BBSC was active during the 1920's and 1930's but, like most sailing clubs, stopped activities during the second world war. After the war sailing activities continued and has been continuously active ever since.

The club has always been based near the Abbey as the location provides sheltered moorings from the prevailing SW winds, the availability of the Bantry House Slipway (known then as Curleys/Cons slip), and walking distance Bantry. The first clubhouse was build about 1970. It was a prefabricated wooden structure used during the terminal construction work at Whiddy Island and moved to the current site of todays clubhouse.

During the 1960's club membership increased dramatically, especially among young members with their own boats and it was necessary to provide better facilities.The land between the cemetery and the strand was donated by the late Paddy O' Keeffe with a condition that a slipway be built suitable for launching and hauling of boats. The Abbey Slip was built by the County Council and Bord Failte. The plot adjoining was designated a leisure area for public use and the temporary clubhouse was situated there until it was burned about 10 years later.

At that stage the club decided to build a permanent structure and the only suitable location was the old Bantry House boatyard. After the Whiddy disaster in 1979, the Government provided funds to the Bantry area to compensate for economic loss, provide jobs and fund projects and facilities. The club availed of this and a lease of the boatyard was acquired. The new clubhouse was built (facing stone from old boathouse). It was officially opened in June 1988 by the late Denis Doyle.

The Club would like to acknowledge the generosity of the Shellswell-White Family (Bantry House).

We found this picture in our archive file and have a bit of information about it: It was taken at Tragariff House and was received from Lady Haskard. We have identified Paddy O'Keeffe and Bertie Healy Newtown. It is sure to include Brig. Haskard, and family, and Major Pringle. There was/is a Club silver trophy called the Tragariff Cup.Can anyone identify who else is in the picture? If so click on 'Contact' above and let us know. 

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Atlantic Challenge is deep in Bantry Bay Sailing Clubs DNA.

The Bantry Bay Longboat

At the heart of the movement is the Bantry Bay gig—a graceful, historically significant vessel. It is a replica of a French admirals gig captured by the British in Bantry Bay in 1796 during Wolfe Tone's failed French Armada invasion.

• Specifications: The 38-foot boats are powered by ten oars and three dipping lug sails.
• Crew Dynamics: A full crew consists of 13 members who must work as a highly coordinated unit, teaching intense teamwork and seamanship.

• The original Bantry Bay Longboat is on display in the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dún Laoghaire.

The 1796 French invasion attempt at Bantry Bay—known as l'Expédition d'Irlande—is widely considered one of the greatest "what if" moments in Irish history. While a massive French fleet successfully breached British naval blockades to reach the southwest coast of Ireland, not a single French soldier ever set foot on land due to some of the worst winter storms of the 18th century

The expedition was orchestrated by Theobald Wolfe Tone, the founding father of Irish republicanism and leader of the Society of United Irishmen. Tone had travelled to France to persuade the revolutionary French Directory that launching an invasion would sever England's maritime superiority and trigger a massive, native Irish uprising

The Atlantic Challenge organization was founded on the belief that young people, to equally include male and female, can forge deep team bonds and gain invaluable leadership skills by building, rigging, and sailing traditional wooden boats together.

The International Atlantic Challenge Event is a biennial international youth contest of seamanship. It brings together crews from around the world to compete in traditional 18th-century Bantry Bay row-and-sail gigs. The highly anticipated summer event takes place in Roskilde, Denmark, in July 2026

Atlantic Challenge International is a global youth educational organization and biennial seamanship competition founded in 1984 by Lance Lee and Bernard Cadoret. It focuses on building international camaraderie and preserving traditional maritime skills through the construction and racing of historic 38-foot Bantry Bay longboats

The first two longboats were built at the Rockport Apprenticeship in Maine, USA. The inaugural International Contest took place in New York Harbor during the Statue of Liberty Centennial celebrations, featuring crews from the USA and France.

In 1990 Atlantic Challenge Team Ireland joins the fleet, and Ireland's first boat (Unite) was built in Baltimore, Co. Cork. Ireland subsequently began hosting and winning international contests

Last updated 16:03 on 21 June 2026