Event report and all results now available here. Also regatta fleet debrief from Thomas Chaix

Saoirse Kavanagh (SSC) lost her mobile phone at the Connacht's in Galway on Saturday night. It is a pink Sony Ericsson. Contact Dad, Vincent Kavanagh on 086 8919 333 or vkav@eircom.net

A fleet of 127 sailing Optimists enjoyed keen racing, bright sunshine and a fresh north-easterly breeze on Galway Bay over the weekend.

The largest fleet of sailing boats ever to race on Galway bay enjoyed keen competitive racing in brilliant sunshine and a fresh breeze of between 14 and 24 Knots on Irelands largest bay in Ireland.

The fleet was split in to a Main fleet of 87 boats where Race Officer Dave Vinnel & Aoife Lyons produced 6 excellent races in the outer bay. The Regatta Fleet consisting of 40 boats where John and Adair Leech provided 3 races for the younger novice sailors in New Harbour beneath the Marine Institute building. Safety was paramount with numerous capsizes and consequent retireals who were unable to face the challenging conditions on the bay.

However the boats that stayed out for all races were rewarded with close and exciting racing in the strongest breeze these young sailors have experienced all year. After racing on Saturday the competitors and their many supporters gathered in Galway Bat Sailing Club to enjoy Munsters European Cup victory over Toulouse, where Commodore Paul O Brine led the supporters on the big screen.

Saturday produced the better racing in the open bay but with a strong north easterly breeze running out of Oranmore Bay on Sunday racing had to be moved to the more sheltered waters off Rinville Point.

 The Logistics of managing this event were borne by John Lowther, Club Manager, John Collins, Beachmaster and Johnny Murphy Safety Officer.

The prize giving was made on the lawn in front of the clubhouse in bright sunshine where the Sponsors VOLVO, Kenny Motors and The Marine Institute spoke of the importance of racing and the Marine Leisure industry generally to Galway. Brian Kenny spoke of the significance of Galway Bay to the Ocean Volvo Race and invited all present to view the spectacle that will arrive in Galway in 12 months time.

Helen Mc Cormick representing the Marine Institute spoke of the significant role that sailing and racing has generally on an island maritime Nation.

The Commodore Paul O Brien thanked VOLVO for their generous sponsorship and the Marine Institute who provided promotional material and clothing to all competitors as well as the use of their Car park facilities where there were over 100 trailers parked for the duration of the event. One perpetual trophy was presented by the sponsors for each fleet.

The Munster clubs won in Cardiff and Galway with the Royal Cork Yacht Club dominating the Main Fleet. In the Regatta fleet Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Malahide

Click here to download Regatta Fleet debrief

PLEASE NOTE:  ENTRY FORM IS INCLUDED AT REAR OF NOTICE OF RACE.

ALL SAILORS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THE NEW 2008 SAILING FORMAT WHICH WILL BE INTODUCED AT REGIONALS AND NATIONALS

click here to download