A fleet of up to 30 sailing boats from Mayo will be given pride of place at the finale of 39,000 mile round the world Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. The boats will take part in the spectacular Parade of Sail on Galway Bay on Sunday July 1.
The nine day seafaring and entertainment festival being organised to coincide with the end of the gruelling Volvo race will be the biggest tourist event of the year attracting an estimated 800,000 spectators and visitors to the Galway region.
Galway harbour master, Capt Brian Sheridan, says the Mayo Sailing Club fleet will be given a VIP reception in Galway as they have been among the greatest supporters of the city’s hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race and of sailing events nationally and internationally .
He said: “The Mayo boats made a very significant contribution to the success of the 2009 Volvo stopover in Galway, and their crews embody the spirit of Volvo in a way that makes them very special guests. The pioneering and courageous voyages undertaken by Mayo’s sailors in recent years has won them a special place in sailing lore and history which we are all very proud of. They will be given a huge welcome in Galway.”
The Mayo flotilla will leave the club’s home base at Rossmoney, near Westport, on Friday June 28 and will overnight en route to Galway on Inishbofin and Inis Mór.
Commodore of Mayo Sailing Club, Rory Casey, said: “It is absolutely brilliant to have such a world class event just down the road, and it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet some of the world’s greatest sailors – men who have sailed the toughest oceans in the world to get to Galway.”
Mr Casey, who sailed on Mayo’s most famous boat Northabout during its Arctic adventures, said the members of the Mayo Sailing Club were also looking forward to taking part in some of the highly competitive regattas on Galway Bay. Up to 500 boats from all over the country are expected in Galway to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race finale programme.
The festival, built around the race finale, will include non-stop family entertainment, free nightly performances by some of the country’s best known bands, a spectacular fireworks display, and an opportunity for thousands to get out on the water and share in the excitement of the world’s greatest sailing event.
