There were extraordinary scenes in Galway in the early hours of this morning as thousands of people assembled to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet into Galway Bay.
An estimated ten thousand people gathered to welcome the yachts into Galway at 03.45am as bonfires were lit on the Aran islands to mark the latest leg of the around the world race.
Irish-Chinese entry, Green Dragonwas given a remarkable welcome, arriving in third place. Puma came second, beating Green Dragon by 3 miles - and eleven minutes, and Ericsson 4 came first.
The Dragon has three Irish sailors on board - Ian Moore, Damian Foxall and Justin Slattery - and has completed her circumnavigation, with today's finish earned it one of its strongest leg finishes to date.
"It's unbelievable. Phenomenal," said Green Dragon's Irish navigator Ian Moore. "This is pretty special. Being an Irishman on an Irish boat finishing in an Irish port... I don't think anyone will ever forget this."
Ian Walker, British skipper of Green Dragon, his first entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, was almost lost for words on his arrival.
"I’m flabbergasted. The number of people, the number of boats. There must have been 500 boats out there. All at four in the morning. Some of them in little ribs 30 miles offshore, shouting us on. Is the whole town here? Did anyone stay in bed tonight?
"Given our recent run, third place was beyond our expectations, but that is what we strive for. We knew if we got heavy downwind conditions, that was the one thing we could do well in,” he said.
The six-boat race started in Alicante, Spain, on October 11th, last year and is scheduled to finish in St Petersburg, Russia, on June 27th.
It is twenty years since Ireland made its debut into what was then the Whitbread Round the World Race (1989-90) with NCB Ireland.
Their arrival into Galway marks the end of the Oceanic legs of the race. The boats have now completed 35,000 miles in the 39,000 mile race.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to visit the Volvo Ocean Race village today, and the official opening of a two-week festival is to be performed by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen and mayor of Galway Pádraig Conneely tonight at 10pm.
Galway will host the Volvo Ocean for the next two weeks, with festival, music, art, and fine food.
The next leg of the race departs on June 5th.
