Volvo Ocean Race

    It's official. As we revealed here on this page last week, Galway is set to host the biggest global party in Irish sailing history.

The finale and the prize-giving ceremony of the next edition of the world's biggest ocean yacht race is coming to the west of Ireland, putting Galway once again firmly on the Volvo Ocean Race map.
 For the first time in its history the Volvo Ocean Race will conclude with an in-port race, which will take place around the spectacular backdrop of Galway Bay on Saturday July 7, 2012.  The race will leave the French city of Lorient on Sunday, July 1,2012 and is expected to arrive into Galway three days later after rounding the Fastnet Rock of the Kerry coast.

Having staged the most impressive stopover May 2009, the Volvo Ocean Race committee has rewarded the organisers Let's Do It Galway with a bigger and better opportunity than last year - to host the finale of this global event and also the overall prize-giving ceremony.

In making the decision to select Galway as the finish port for the 2011/12 event, Volvo has given Galway and its organisers the most positive affirmation of its ability to stage a world-wide event, passing over the company's traditional Swedish home ports.

The selection comes after several months of intense negotiations between the organisers and the Volvo Ocean Race committee, whose chief executive officer Knut Frostad acknowledged last year that the Galway stopover was a "model" for others to follow.

Yesterday in Dublin, Frostad joined An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, members of Let's Do It Global, and Failte Ireland, for the official confirmation and contract signing, saying he was delighted the race was returning to Ireland.

"I am very proud to confirm Ireland's participation and Galway will be a magnificent port to stage the finish of the event," he said.

Galway's reputation as a party city and the incredible Irish reaction to last year's stopover was a vital factor in its selection over strong opposition from several rival cities. Last year's race finished in St Petersburg, but many felt it lacked the necessary hype which should surround the end of the world's most prestigious ocean yacht race. "The 2009 stopover in Galway made an abiding impression on the sailors, support crews, organisers and media, who were immersed in the warmth of an Irish welcome.
Last May's stopover attracted some 30,000 people to the docks for the arrival of the boats from Boston, with more than 650,000 visiting the race village during the two-week festival.

For more info: letsdoitgalway.com