| 2010 Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race begins in Galway, June 5th-12th - Five days, Five stages, 75 boats, 300 Crew, 800 miles, Extreme Adventure, One extreme challenge !
On Sunday June 5th 2010, over 75 world-class powerboats will leave Galway Bay in pursuit of the Around Ireland Offshore title.
The race will circumnavigate the entire coast of Ireland and will be the toughest endurance powerboat race on the International circuit.
The 2010 Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race will be an International event with competitors coming from all over the world. The 6 days of Racing will be a true test of man and machine. There will be 5 stages:
- Galway to Killybegs
- Killybegs to Bangor
- Bangor to Waterford
- Waterfors to Fenit
- Fenit to Galway
This race is not for the faint hearted. Irelands varied coastline will prove a severe test for even the most experienced powerboat enthusiasts with the Atlantic leg being unique to world racing.
The intention is to create a showpiece event both on and off the water that will highlight Ireland and our marine and boating Tourism potential. The event will offer the Powerboat racing community opportunities to showcase Ireland on an International stage. The 5 venues currently being organised will not only facilitate the requirements of offshore powerboat racing but also the on-shore activities that will be organised as part of the event
In particular the start and finish in Galway will echo the excitement of the recent Volvo Ocean Race Stopover with a full programme of powerboat racing challenges in Galway Bay between the start and finish of the feature event including:
- P750 European Championships
- A cross-border P750 Zapcats challenge
- Offshore Circuit Racers Cross Border event UK-IRL
Onshore in Galway a festival programme of music and entertainment, a boat show and food and craft markets will ensure fun for all the family against the backdrop of the programme on the water. Likewise at each of the stopover stages similar festival programmes will greet the race on arrival and ensure excitement and drama for each re-start.
The Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race 2010 is now open for entries and is filling up fast. The race is being organised by the Irish Offshore Powerboat Racing Club in conjunction with the Irish Sailing Association and the UIM, the International Powerboat Racing Authority. The race will be run under the international rules of the UIM and working closely with the ISA the organisers will ensure that all safety, marine and environmental conventions are correctly observed.
Competition is expected to be fierce as evidenced by the fact that the Round Ireland record has been broken twice in the past 3 months and more attempts are expected between now and the 2010 Race. The record currently stands at 18 hrs 38 mins and 50 secs.
For more information please see http://www.aroundireland.org/ |
