PUMA charges away from Galway. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
by Rick Deppe
Today (Saturday) the weather in Galway finally broke. After two weeks of glorious sunshine and light winds (the locals have assured us that it is not normally like this) today our very own D-day, June 6th, dawned overcast and chilly. The forecast for the first part of the race is awesome. We’ll have lots of heavy air running, which will give the il mostro the chance to show her heels. It’s going to be game on and in fact right now, only two hours after the start we are already in a tight gybing duel with the fleet as we run down the coast of Ireland. Specifically Tele-B who just took our transom by about a boat length!
Downwind starts are always fun and today was no exception. With a nice 20 knot breeze and flat water, the massive crowds here in Galway were given quite a treat as the fleet blasted across the start line like a bunch of thoroughbreds, then a quick loop of the bay before heading out between the cliffs and the Aran Islands. Galway deserves a great deal from us because for the two weeks since we arrived they've put on a brilliant show for us. To say it has been a party would be an understatement. The statistics for foot traffic through Galway and the race village are truly staggering. What a great model for an ideal stopover! I'm sure that Galway is one that the race organizers will be taking into serious consideration as the race moves forward and re-invents itself.
A perfect stop for the race and I'm sure the city would feel that the race is a perfect event for the city. Ireland is in a recession and the city received a healthy financial boost from the race. This is a real party town and I would recommend a visit here to anyone- great food, tons of pubs and the people are awesome.
PUMA departing Galway. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
As I mentioned earlier it’s June 6th. Today is the 65 year anniversary of that famous day when the Allied troops took part in one of the most significant events of the last century, D-day. Thousands of soldiers invaded the beaches at Normandy and began the liberation of Europe. Winston Churchill once said "This is not the beginning, this is not the end, this is the beginning of the end.” I can’t think of a more perfect way to describe our position here in the race between now and the finish.
We should be at the Fastnet Rock tonight and then Lands End tomorrow. YEEE HAAA!!!
PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race
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