Back in Galway from the sea

So this saturday I went back to Galway for the final in-port race of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012...
As they say the final showdown:



We used our diving club ( Aughinish ) boat to get to Galway bay. Launching the boat from Doolin, all the way up to Salthill - the race was taking place just in front of it.

We arrived around 11AM after a smooth drive - despite being against the wind and the swell, thanks to a dexterous cox -  before the sailing boat left the Galway docks.
While they were going out, we were able to get pretty close and have a good view of those ocean beasts.

Spanish Boat 

The French Boat ... winner of the overall race :D

There was many boats trying to follow the race, including the local hooker:

Galway Hooker

Then the marshall pushed us behind the yellow buoy, so the race could start... and off they went for an hour of intense action.

The race 

Camper and Groupama battling out to catch Puma

Camper and F.Cammas boat

Groupama chasing Camper

Puma... and yes we are behing the buoy :)

Puma won the race,

The winner of the in port race Puma

And after another pass near the boat, we decided to turn back to the Clare side of the bay.
We did try to get into Monks in Ballyvaughan, but a sand bank prevented our plan - and I won't say anything else about that.

It was a fast drive back to Doolin, where the Dolphin was waiting for us, with the wind pushing in our back.

In summary a very happy day at sea ! I will be following the next race ( probably won't come to Ireland this time :( )




- UPDATE -

•  The full inport race: 

• And Bock account of the race ( from a different boat ):

http://bocktherobber.com/2012/07/volvo-ocean-race-2012/


- UPDATE -
My diving club account of the event: http://www.aughinishdivingclub.com/news/170-volvo-ocean-race

Road trip to Galway for the Volvo Ocean Race

Following the successful stop over in Galway in 2009 ( see my 2009 posts here and there ) , the 2011-2012 edition of the Volvo Ocean race (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race) was scheduled to finish in Galway, with a last leg starting from Lorient, France.

A magnific leg 9, i have to say, stretching along the coastline of Ireland, taking the inside of the Fastnet and the outside of the Aran-Island.

Leg 9 (and final) of the Volvo Ocean Race

I had decided to go over to see the boats  arriving in the docks, so Monday i had an eye on the online GPS tracker, and estimated arrival time of the 550nm leg.
Initially scheduled to arrive tuesday morning, the boat did an excellent progress, and the estimated time went down from 3AM, 2AM to midnight.

So around 9pm I left limerick for an impromptu road trip, and I manage to "press ganged" a sailor for this adventure. We arrived a bit after 10PM in all lited Galway

Wheel

Wheel

The boat arrived in the complete darkness, crossing the line a bit before 1AM, then move slowly into the docks ( which could not be opened till 2AM due to the tides ).

Off course a myriad of lighted boat went to welcome them... ahead...

Camper entering the docks

Within 30 minutes of docking - well probably a lot more - the leg winner (Camper ) was hushed on to the main stage, in front of drunken Irish and dancing raving teenagers ;) 

Leg Winner : Camper

After that it was time to celebrate the overall race winner Groupama, who only arrived second , 7 minutes after the leg winner.

Overall Winner : french Groupama

We also had a look at those magnificent boats:

Volvo 70

Volvo 70 Mast

We waited the arrival of the last 2 boats, and soon it was 5AM ... time for a bit of sleep before driving back to Limerick/Shannon.

And to finish the highlights of Franck Cammas crew victory:

The boats are still in Galway till Saturday 7th of June , where they will race one last time in a in-port regatta.

Ocean Racing

Spend the weekend, traveling along the west coast:

View Larger Map

First to Galway to see the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race 7 leg, brilliant atmosphere in town, and it was nice to see so many chips in the bay, especially at night when they escorted the wining boat.
And what a welcome, six thousand drunk Irish straight out of the pub ( 2 am closing time ) welcoming 7 sailer after 7 days at seas. Brilliant. The whole town was buzzing with the event, you almost felt like on a French marina on a sunny Sunday. After that i move to the other side of the bay ( Black head ) where i've got a glimpse ( it was dark around 3-4am) of the Irish boat : Green Dragon.

Finally i drive down to Doolin, to discover a nasty South South-West swell, preventing any boat launch there. So we finally decided to retreat to Kilkee, launch the boat, and try a couple of dive sites:
- the pinnacle was undivable, with breaking waves on the top of it ( due to low tide)
- bishop island turn to be a disaster, only 2 got down, but give up due to bad vis and swell at 25 meters.
Not a great day for diving.

Rainy St Patrick Day

St Patrick Parade in the streets of Galway













A very rainy day....
And a good performance by the irish team in the 6 nations championship has not been enough to prevent France from winning....

Aran Island [2]

Friday.

Sunset on Lahinch Beach (Co Clare)

Finish the day in a pub... (Lahinch Co Clare)

Saturday Aran Island biking all day

Finding some treasure...

And finally seeing some Galway's Hooker ... racing

I think my parents have been happy with this trip to Inis Mor...