update for this Sunday’s Galway Bay Sea kayak race
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Kind regards Jim
Galway Bay Sea Kayak Race Update, May 22nd 2009
To those paddlers who have made contact, thank you for registering
interest to compete in the inaugural Galway Bay Sea Kayak Race.
Over 50 paddlers have registered to date, and with good weather
forecast for Sunday hopefully we will have more paddlers joining. If
you have not yet registered and intend to paddle, please drop us a
line.
The latest ‘guesstimation’ of an ETA for the Volvo Ocean Race Fleet
arriving in Galway is possibly Sunday afternoon- evening. As a result
road (& marine) traffic is predicted to be heavy in the approaches to
Galway and around the city. It’s recommended to allow a good bit of
extra time for your journey. Ideally, paddlers should be aiming to
reach docks by 12:30.
This afternoon, we drove the race course in Force 4-5 Westerly wind
conditions. Maximum wave height of 1-1.5ft was encountered. The course
lap was largely sheltered by Mutton Island and the Mutton Island
Causeway. Best places for spectators are Nimmo’s Pier, South Park and
Mutton Island causeway (all are on the west side of the River Corrib).
Interestingly, the Ocean leg finish line is just seaward of Mutton
Island close to the south turn on the lap, so keep a sharp eye out to
sea at the turn.
3km Novice course may be adjusted on the day depending on conditions.
Weather Forecast for Sunday 24th May (Met Eireann);
Sunday will be another dry and bright day with variable cloud and
sunny spells. Winds will be light variable or southwest, with
afternoon temperatures reaching the high teens. It'll continue very
mild or even warm for Monday and Tuesday too.
Prizegiving is loosely scheduled for 17:30 hrs. Venue will be decided by Sunday.
Opening Ceremony for the Stopover Festival will start at 22:00hrs on
Sunday evening on the Topaz main stage in the dock festival village.
Information, Directions & Traffic arrangements for Galway Bay Sea Kayak Race
Galway Bay Sea Kayak race will be based in the temporary car park
beside the new slipway at Dun Aengus dock in the Galway Enterprise
Park/new dock area. The new slipway is on the East side of the river
and faces across to Nimmo’s Pier.
Parking is on a first come first served basis and will cost €5 flat
rate for the day, payable at entrance kiosk.
Race start is scheduled for 14:00hrs, Entries close at 13:00hrs and
boat control at 13:30hrs.
*Please remember to bring whistle as part of personal safety equipment.
Checkpoint on Lough Atalia Road
Due to road closures between the city and the adjacent docks during
the Galway Stopover, Lough Atalia Road is the only way into the new
dock area. Over the weekends of the Ocean race stopover festival
(including next Sunday) there will be road checkpoint on the south
(dock) end of Lough Atalia road at traffic light junction below the
Radisson hotel. Normal traffic won’t be allowed to the south end of
Lough Atalia road and dock area.
However, It has been cleared with Craig Flaherty of Lets Do It
organisation /Festival Traffic Control that vehicles attending the Sea
Kayak Race WILL be permitted to pass through this checkpoint and onto
the docks. I have made it clear that in addition to vehicles carrying
kayaks, there will be other vehicles without Kayaks that will have
paddlers, and it has been agreed they too can pass the checkpoint.
If you have problems stuck in traffic/checkpoint give me a shout at 087 7565578
Directions to Race start from checkpoint on Lough Atalia/Radisson
hotel Junction:
Orange coloured direction signs marked “kayaks” will be hung from the
Huntsman Junction to Race Start.
(Lough Atalia Road is easily found from old Dublin road/ Huntsman’s
Inn junction for traffic coming from East, and via Fosters Street
coming from west)
Pass through checkpoint on Lough Atalia road, under railway bridge,
past Texaco Garage & coal depot on left and it’s the next left just
before Tan-coloured Harbour Hotel.
After 50 metres your sent left. Pass the loading bays of Galway Bay
Seafoods (on your right). At T-junction take left, cross over the
bridge into the new dock/ Galway Enterprise Area.
Take first right into Temporary Car park. (€5 parking fee payable at
kiosk) Race entries and boat control will be at the far end of the car
park closest to the brand new slipway.
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday
Jim Morrissey
Race Organiser
087 7565578
info at kayakmor dot com
Kayakmór
info@kayakmor.com
Tel: +353 (0) 9336097
Mobile: +353 (0) 877565578
