Galway Power Boat Festival Kicks Off Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race 2010

The streets of Galway, Ireland were packed with visitors as the Galway Power Boat Festival began last weekend. The festival, which runs from the 5th - 12th of June, features the P1 Superstock Championships, P750 racing and Jet Ski time trials, but the focus is really on the Inaugural Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race, which had competitors setting out after the coveted title on Monday 7th at 9am and expected to cross the finish line on Sat June 12th.

STORY PHOTO CREDITS: www.aroundireland.org.

Denis Dillon, Powerboat Development Officer of the Irish Sailing Association, said "There is a huge history of powerboating in Ireland; in fact the first ever International powerboat championship for the Harmsworth Trophy was held in Cork in 1903. The Around Ireland Powerboat Race 2010 is in its inaugural year and we are hoping that it will become a permanent fixture on the international circuit and will grow to a major sporting event."


First leg results (Galway to Killybegs) had Cinzano Bianco in first place, with a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes, 38 seconds and an average speed 39.35Knots. That trend continued through Stage Two with Cinzano still in 1st -- this time runing at an average speed of 43.41 Knots and with an elapsed time of 3 hours, 48 minutes, 05 seconds.


The race will circumnavigate the entire coast of Ireland and will certainly be the toughest endurance powerboat race on the International circuit. The 5 days of racing will be a surf-pounding test of man and machine, with 5 stages and special events at each of the stopovers:

• Galway to Killybegs (07 June)
• Killybegs to Belfast (08 June)
• Belfast to Waterford (09-10 June)
• Waterford to Fenit (11 June) Fenit Sea Breeze Festival runS 6/11- 6/13
• Fenit to Galway (12 June)

For up-to-the minute coverage, check out the race Twitter page at http://twitter.com/AroundIreland