Downpours fail to dampen spirits at ocean race
While it was sunshine and ice cream on Monday, it was back to usual Galway attire yesterday with heavy-duty wet gear in operation. Luckily, the teams were selling enough merchandise to get you around the world in a yacht, so visitors to the Race Village were not stuck for protection from the elements.
After between 10,000 and 15,000 hardy partygoers thronged the docks to welcome the yachts in the early hours, it was back to the more mundane tasks of getting everything ship-shape for the in-port racing which takes place later in the week. Shore crews were clearing out yachts and taking the full force of the weather for much of the afternoon.
While people marvel at the toughness of the men who spend nine months of the year circumnavigating the world in spectacularly cramped living conditions, spare a thought for the guys who transport everything else around the world to meet them.
Everything — from sticking plasters to team pavilions, and the personal belongings of the crew to 100ft replacement masts — has to be moved around the world in time for the arrival of the yachts at the stopover ports.
Gertjan Karreman, vice-president of global business development ocean freight at DHL, was tasked with shipping the equivalent of a music festival around the world for the past nine months.
“We will enjoy Galway. I have had a lot of stressful phonecalls in the past few months, I don’t even want to see my bill but everything got to where it needed to be on time, even when we had to get 38m masts onto planes and get them to the other side of the world. The Volvo Ocean Race might be the Mt Everest of sailing but, believe me, it’s the Mt Everest of logistics also.”
Since Oct 2011, the start of the race in Alicante, Spain, DHL has been moving 152 20ft equivalent containers by sea along with 20 airfreight containers to each stopover.
Each container contains a myriad of equipment and parts, ranging from small components such as first aid boxes, life-jacket kits, loft hand tools, and rig lifting sling sets to more sizeable goods such as desks and fridges, as well as massive goods such as 100ft-tall masts. The extensive inventory also includes two Volvo concept cars, which visit each port.
Unencumbered by such stresses is Damian Foxall from Co Kerry, who, after four attempts, was finally on the winning boat in the race.
Describing it as “a childhood dream, an adult’s dream”, he said to finish in his home country made the experience all the more special.
“Galway is absolutely perfect for the Volvo Ocean Race and the Volvo Ocean Race is perfect for Galway. In the West of Ireland we know how to do things properly. I’m looking forward to spending another week here. We had a massive night here in Galway with a fierce caravan of people.”
* 10am: President Michael D Higgins visits Race Village and Global Village
* 12pm: Public picnic with musical entertainment (until 3pm), Global Village Global Arena
* 1pm: The Molly Hicks followed by Mike & the Skallywags, The Shoos, O Emperor, and DJ iRadio at Race Village iRadio Marina Stage
* 1pm: Special guests followed by Galway Fringe Festival, Fia Rua, The Hardcore Priests of Yemen, Rural Savage, The Getaway Gondola, and Mike & the Scallywags at the Global Village Main Stage.
Theatre, drama and seminars from drama groups from Galway City and county, followed by Green Seminar, Galway Fringe Festival, and Mairín Ní Dhonnchadha NUIG: Global Village Theatre and Spoken Word Stages (until 7pm)
* 3pm: Connacht Rugby Pro Player workshops for children, Global Village
* 6pm: Hot 8 Brass Band, followed by Tucan, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Galway Swing Dance, Vaudeville Vamps, and West Coast Big Band
* 7pm: US Independence Day Parade, Eyre Square to Global Village.
* 10.45pm: Fireworks celebrations at Galway Harbour.
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