Galway Greets Green Dragon

Built at McConaghy Yachts in Zhuhai, China and shipped to the UK in early June, this was the first time the Galway public had laid eyes on the boat that will carry Irish-Chinese hopes in the 2008-09 Volvo.

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Skipper Ian Walker described the reception the team received from local devotees as “overwhelming”. It helps that the international crew has leading Irish sailors and Volvo specialists – Damian Foxall, Justin Slattery and Ian Moore – among the ranks.

Also on board was Chinese sailor Chuan Guo – a candidate to fill the Chinese crew member position for the race.

“We have had an amazing welcome, it is fantastic to be in our home port and the excitement about the race coming here next year is evident from the people today,” Walker said.

“We will remain in Ireland for the next month as we prepare for the race. Its location gives us an ideal opportunity to test the boat in a range of inshore and offshore conditions.”

Green Dragon Director of Sailing, Eamon Conneely, was also along for the ride. “This is an historic moment for all of us working on the campaign,” he said. “To bring the Green Dragon home to Galway for the first time is a milestone in the project.”

The race will stop off in the Irish port from 23rd May to 6th June next year with an in-port race scheduled on Galway Bay on 30th May. Fáilte Ireland, who are organizing the stopover, anticipate a crowd of 140,000 visitors while the race is in town.

The Green Dragon Volvo Open 70 will be based in Galway until the end of the week before returning to Cork for a short re-fit before heading to the Atlantic for their race qualifier.