Rounding the Rock

28th July 2008

Recent forays out from Cork have been the Green Dragon's first introduction to its Irish sailing heritage. As the she made her way up the coast from Cork, skipper Ian Walker posted this report from the Fastnet Rock.

"It seems appropriate that the first report from onboard our Volvo 70 Green Dragon should be as we round the legendary Fastnet Rock, the Southernmost tip of Ireland.

Eamonn Coneely steers the Green Dragon around the Fastnet Rock.

"This Rock has a special place in sailing folklore and one cant help but think back to the tragic events in the 1979 Fastnet and of all friends and colleagues we know who have been lost at sea. It is also a stark reminder of the importance of safety and never is that more important than in these awesome boats. Fortunately we should have no problems today as we are sailing under full main and mast head zero in a 10 knot Southerly breeze.

"We are leaving the Fastnet Rock to Starboard having sailed the 50 miles from Cork and we now head North for our home port of Galway. This has been an amazing journey for this boat having started life on the mould in McConaghy boatyard in Zhuhei, China, been shipped to the UK and then commissioned and worked up over a month in both Gosport and Cork. Galway marks the end of this particular journey but the start of a new chapter.

"At only 220 miles this will be a short trip estimated at 22 hours right now and we are not only breaking in some new systems but sail testing as we go. We are trying to learn how best to sail the boat but deadlines for ordering new sails are fast upon us and design decisions have to be made.

"Right now Tom Braidwood who project managed the build is proudly steering whilst Scott, Phil and Eamon work the trim. It is great that 2 of our boat building team, Clayton and Ben, are also on board after all their hard work (and others!) in building the boat. The SW Ireland coast is an amazing sight and everyone is enjoying the scenery. I have sailed up this particular coastline before with Eamon Conneely (trimming the main right now) on the TP52 Patches and it has to be seen to be believed. I cant wait to sail past the Aran Islands and into Galway Bay where we will be sailing in from Boston in 10 months time. It hardly seems possible that we will have sailed round the world between now and May 2009.

"Anyway it's my turn to steer the next set of tests as we bear off and set the A2 spinnaker so Id better get back on deck.

Galway here we come just in time for the Galway Races!"

Ian Walker Skipper Green Dragon Fastnet Rock 51 22min N 9 36min

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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