Inaugural Galway Bay Sea Kayak race

Sincere Thank you's to all 55 paddlers who turned up for the Inaugural Galway Bay Sea Kayak race. As an inaugural event organised at the 11th hour, the numbers are very encouraging, and we hope 2010 will be bigger entry still.

The race was held in the afternoon of last Sunday 24th May, a day which started with the great excitement of the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race Fleet into Galway Docks during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The race was split into 3 categories (Novice/Standard & Racers Classes) to encourage particpation across a wide range of paddling abilities over different distances.

As it turned out, conditions on the day were decidedly challenging with a stiff SSW Force 5, choppy 1-2 ft waves, and swirling river currents rising standing waves at Galway dock mouth. Special thanks to Paul Murphy in his kayak and the fleet of Rescue boats provided by Tribesman Rowing club, Kayakmór, & GMIT Castlebar.

Congratulations to the winners of each Class and all paddlers who paddled beyond their skins to complete the laps. The downwind leg from Mutton Island back to Galway docks was for many a crash course in kayak surfing.

Fastest boat on the course was Dermot Hudson from SLCC in the racing singles class, paddling a SIPRE Marlin Ocean Racing Ski, his scorching winning time of 53:01mins for 3 laps some 55 seconds ahead of National WWR Champion; Kevin Pierce from WWKC.

Without the great help from sponsors/volunteers the race would not have taken place. so Thank you Sponsors - Bord Failte, Kayakmór, Mc Cambridges, ICU, River Deep Mountain High, Xposure & Galway Maritime.

How lucky to have such a wonderful Logisitics/ crew!......... Louise/Anna/Ursula/Monica/Koti/Sarah/Lara/Rakkel/Ray/Paul/Timmy/Esther/Johhny/ Sarah/ Meaghan/ Megan/ Geo/ Lohan Snr's/ and thanks to Chris Tierney for excellent photos.

A race website will be commissioned shortly at www. galwaybayseakayak.com

For now, photos from Galway Bay Sea Kayak Race can be viewed at

http://www.chrisdidthis.com/galleries/gbskr/

Results for the race are attached.

Hope to see you in 2010.

All the best

Jim Morrissey