UNLESS THEY were walking on water, canvassing politicians were wasting their time in Galway at the weekend. Forget the motorcades – a berth on a hooker, yacht or rib was the only way to net a few “floating votes”.
Round-the-world yacht crews, Red Arrow aerial acrobatics and national five-a-side football attracted over 110,000 people to Galway on Saturday alone, while an estimated 238,000 people have already visited the dockside race village over the past week.
With the crowds came summer, as an anti-cyclone over Scandinavia and southwards lifted temperatures to the mid-20s.
With or without the weather, however, hundreds of boats were determined to take to the water in time for both the Volvo Ocean Race in-port racing, the Red Arrows flying team, and the “pro-am” challenge yesterday.
In-port racing contributes to 20 per cent of total race points on offer in the 37,000-mile round world race, and the course set is short to ensure close-quarters sailing, with a “pinch” or gate in the middle of the sausage-shaped windward-leeward route.
The US entry Puma secured its first in-port win during the two races on Saturday in light variable winds, nudging it closer to second place in overall standings behind Ericsson 4.
The Irish–Chinese entry Green Dragon had to be content with a last placing in both races. The yacht has been unable to afford new sails since China. “It wasn’t to be today,” its skipper, Ian Walker, said afterwards. “But it was amazing looking at the crowds that lined the shore . . . ”
Even as families streamed out towards the seafront, canoeists were involved in an intense water polo match in the Claddagh basin, and parents with small children were retreating from the heat to view an exhibition of currachs in the sanctuary of the Galway City Museum.
Clasping red balloons to signify the casualties of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, members of the Galway Alliance Against War, supported by the Galway Hooker Association, said that they welcomed the Volvo Ocean Race skippers and crew – but said the involvement of the Red Arrows was “a glorification of war”.
Heavy traffic resulted in 5km tailbacks, mainly on approaches to and from Salthill. The national five-a-side football tournament held annually by Salthill-Devon Football Club swelled the throngs, and there was some frustration voiced by residents at the lack of park-and-ride facilities on the city’s western approaches.
Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker and Irish crew members Damian Foxall and Justin Slattery will give a public talk for children in the race village today at 11am on how to become a professional sailor.
All budding sailors, and even politicians, welcome.
