Powerboat Race- Galway to host Round Ireland Power boat Race in Salthill. June 2010

Galway to host Round Ireland Powerboat Race in June 2010.

The streets of Galway will leap into life this June Bank Holiday weekend, with the arrival of the Galway Power Boat Festival, which runs from the 5th – 12th of June 2010. Over 50 world-class Powerboats will leave Galway Bay in pursuit of the Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat title.

The race will circumnavigate the entire coast of Ireland and will be the toughest endurance Power-boat race on the International circuit.

The 2010 Around Ireland Offshore Power-boat Race will be an International event with competitors coming from all over the world. The 5 days of Racing will be a true test of man and machine. There will be 5 stages:

    * Galway to Killybegs
    * Killybegs to Bangor
    * Bangor to Waterford
    * Waterford to Fenit
    * Fenit to Galway

This race is not for the faint hearted. Irelands varied coastline will prove a severe test for even the most experienced powerboat enthusiasts with the Atlantic leg being unique to world racing.

The intention is to create a showpiece event both on and off the water that will highlight Ireland and our marine and boating Tourism potential. The event will offer the Powerboat racing community opportunities to showcase Ireland on an International stage. The 5 venues currently being organised will not only facilitate the requirements of offshore powerboat racing but also the on-shore activities that will be organised as part of the event

In particular the start and finish in Galway will echo the excitement of the recent Volvo Ocean Race Stopover with a full programme of powerboat racing challenges in Galway Bay between the start and finish of the feature event including a cross-border P750 challenge.

Onshore in Galway a festival programme of music and entertainment, a boat show and food and craft markets will ensure fun for all the family against the backdrop of the programme on the water. Likewise at each of the stopover stages similar festival programmes will greet the race on arrival and ensure excitement and drama for each re-start.

The Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race 2010 is now open for entries and is filling up fast. The race is being organised by the Irish Offshore Powerboat Racing Club and Let's Do It Global in conjunction with the Irish Sailing Association and the UIM, the International Powerboat Racing Authority. The race will be run under the international rules of the UIM and working closely with the ISA the organisers will ensure that all safety, marine and environmental conventions are correctly observed.

Competition is expected to be fierce as evidenced by the fact that the Round Ireland record has been broken twice in the past 3 months and more attempts are expected between now and the 2010 Race. The record currently stands at 18 hrs 38 mins and 50 secs.