Galway is gearing up for another maritime festival when, for the first time, it hosts a major powerboating event.
An eight day festival is planned in the Galway Harbour Race Village to celebrate the occasion which starts on June 5 now an event licence has been issued by the Galway City Council.
Organised by the Let’s Do It Galway team that staged the successful Volvo stopover last year, the festival is another feather in Galway’s cap as the ideal venue for maritime events. Three different powerboating championships are taking place over the eight days - the Powerboat P1 Super Stock Championship, the Around Ireland Powerboat Race, and the P750 Cross Border Championship.
It is expected to attract some 140,000 visitors to Galway, kick-starting the June Bank Holiday weekend, and once again Galway Harbour and Salthill will be the venues for free concerts, amusements, bars, food and crafts.
The action begins on Friday June 5 with round two of the 2010 SuperStock Championship. The sport attracts some of the UK’s biggest thrillseekers who, on this occasion, will be tackling the challenging elements of the Atlantic Ocean. The action will be centred in Salthill where fans can enjoy the best views, in addition to race commentaries. Up to 20 identical powerboats, measuring between 21 and 27ft in two race classes, will compete in three races on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship will be screened on British Eurosport, which according to the organises, will further highlight Galway’s credentials to host world class events.
On Bank Holiday Monday (June 7 ) offshore powerboats will leave Galway Bay in pursuit of the Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat title. The race will circumnavigate the coast of Ireland and will be the toughest endurance powerboat race on the international circuit.
The race is staged over five days - Galway to Killybegs (June 7 ), Killybegs to Belfast (June 8 ), Belfast to Waterford (June 9/10 ), Waterford to Fenit (June 11 ), and Fenit to Galway (June 12 ).
The finale on June 12 is the P750 Cross Border Championship, which will coincide with the return of the Around Ireland Powerboat Challenge.
The Galway Race Village will open from 10am to 10.30pm daily with a full programme of entertainment, including the now famous Crystal Swing on the main stage on Sunday June 6, Cartoon Thieves, the Timber Tramps, Joe Furey and The Hayride, and Emmet Scanlan and What the Good Thought.
