The green flag went up at 0900 on a grey bank holiday Monday for 5 of the 6 entries in the Around Ireland Powerboat Race.
The local team Kilcullen Galway Flyer driven by Tom Montgomery Swan and navigated by Enda O’Coineen powered off the start line at around 80 knots whilst the other boats revved up to around 50 knots.
Unfortunately Team Dreamer driven by Kerryman Philip Fitzgibbon did not make it to the start of the Race in Galway due to technical difficulties but hope to be on the start line in Killybegs tomorrow morning (Tuesday 08 June 2010).Commenting at the start of the race,
Denis Dillon, Powerboat Development Officer, Irish Sailing Association stated that ‘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.
Around Ireland Powerboat Race 2010 is in its inaugural year and organisers are hoping that it will become a permanent fixture on the international circuit and will grow to a major sporting event.’The race will circumnavigate the entire coast of Ireland and will be the toughest endurance powerboat race on the International circuit. The 5 days of racing will be a true test of man and machine and there will be 5 stages with 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 will run Friday 11- Sunday 13 JuneFenit to Galway (12 June) The fleet is expected back in Galway on Saturday 12 June meanwhile the festival which saw crowds of over 90,000 flock to Galway over the weekend will continue daily from 1000 to 1030 daily.
For the finale on 12 June, prepare to be amazed and in awe at the P750 Cross Border Powerboat Championship and make sure you are at the dock to welcome back the winner of the Around Ireland Powerboat Challenge on Saturday 12 June. (1400 approximately)
AROUND IRELAND ENTRANTS
Cinzano Bianco
Driver: Markus Hendicks Crew: Tim Grimshaw and Eric Smilie
Engines: 850 X 2 ·
Kilcullen Galway Flyer
Driver: Tom Montgomery-Swan Navigator: Enda OCoineen
Hull Fabio Buzzi Rib
CC 6000
Length 11.00
Engines Mercury 300x Pro Max x2 ·
Seawolf – Team Pulsar Racing
Driver: Justin McInerneyCo Pilot: Andrew Varley
Hull Humber Quinquari Rib
Length 10.00
Engines Twin Suzuki SDF300 Engines ·
Dreamer
Driver: Philip Fitzgibbon
Co-Pilot: James ThompsonTwin Suzuki SDF300
Excalibur Rib ·
Wolf Team Pulsar Racing
Driver: Derek StanleyCo-Pilot: Paul Lewis
Hull Humber Quinquari Rib
Length 8.50
Engines Twin Suzuki DF200 Engines ·
Zoolander Blue Steel Racing
Owner Driver: Oisin Ryan
Co-Driver: John RyanCo-Driver/
Navigator: Gareth Tolan
Length 8.00
Engines Twin Honda 255 with Zodiac
