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Dublin City’s Custom Quay was the host on Thursday for guests and celebrities as they gathered to launch the Venture World Cup powerboating event in Ireland.
Having won the right to host the world’s most exciting festival of powerboat racing, which promises to fire Irish imaginations and put the country on the map as a global marine event organiser, the Venture World Cup was officially launched by An tArdmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh.
The race, which takes place in Ireland in June, will see 25 of the world’s best teams battling it out over seven days of incredible action on the water in a spectacle only matched by the party in each of the ports on route.
Thursday’s launch saw some of Ireland’s most well-known personalities join the An tArdmhéara on Dublin’s Docklands to ‘Feel the Noise’, including hotelier and RTE star John Brennan and Anthony Middleton from Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, who all came together to witness the spectacular sight of three world class powerboats roaring into Dublin’s quays.
“Hosting the final stages of the Venture World Cup in Dublin promises to be a highlight in the city’s calendar of events for 2016,” said An tArdmhéara, Críona Ní Dhálaigh.
“As host partner, Dublin City Council looks forward to working with the Venture Cup team and Dublin Port to deliver a unique shore based festival experience to complement the spectacular water sport activity in Dublin Bay.
“I am delighted to welcome the 25 teams taking part in this prestigious sporting event, which will showcase Dublin's capacity for hosting international sporting events yet again to a global audience. Tugaim fáilte roimh gach duine chuig Baile Átha Cliath don ócáid speisialta seo.”
Billed as the world’s longest, toughest and most prestigious powerboat race, the Venture World Cup features the biggest, loudest and fastest boats in the world.
As well as the top names from power boating, the crews include supermodel David Gandy and motorsport legend Bruno Senna.
The epic adventure begins in Cork on June 10, and will take in many of Ireland’s coastal towns along the journey to the finish line in Dublin.
The organisers have chosen Ireland, and it’s Wild Atlantic Way as the venue for the race as it offers some of the most challenging and demanding racing in the world. Racing 200 miles a day, the event will stop in Dingle, Galway, Killybegs and Belfast.
Venture Cup Racing Director and multiple world powerboat racing champion, Peter Dredge said: “This is going to push teams and their raceboats to the absolute limit. The wild Atlantic coast of Ireland is no place for the faint-hearted, and only the bravest and best prepared will succeed.”
Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Simon Coveney added: “The event will link up so many of the coastal towns of this island. This will be one of the biggest events the country will witness this summer, and it will capture both the imaginations of Irish people and those wishing to visit the country this summer.
“It’s not only a high-end offshore power boating race, but a major international spectacle which will put Ireland on the map for big marine-based events.”
As part of the launch proceedings it was announced that the charity Haven will be the global charity party for the Venture World Cup.
Haven works solely in Haiti, empowering Haitians to build strong and sustainable livelihoods. Haven is working tirelessly on the ground providing shelter, access to clean water and employment opportunities to thousands of struggling families.
Leslie Buckley, founder and chairman of Haven, said: "Haven is delighted to be chosen as the global charity partner of the Venture Cup, which is a tremendously innovative and exciting sporting event destined to bring the international sporting spot light to Ireland.
“This is a huge honor for Haven and will allow us to reach a new platform to raise vital funds for our extensive work on the ground in Haiti, which needs ongoing substantial funding and support to continue."
The epic seven days of racing will finish in Dublin, where a celebration of epic proportions awaits. More than 500,000 spectators are expected to fill Dublin’s docklands and Dublin Bay for daytime racing and evening parties between June 17 and 19.
Fáilte Ireland will be supporting the Venture World Cup as one of their key events in Ireland this summer.
"Fáilte Ireland is delighted to support the 2016 Venture Cup in what is sure to be an eventful and thrilling race,” said a spokesperson.
“International events such as this are not only an important draw for overseas visitors, they also provide an incredible opportunity to attract future visitors to Ireland as scenes from the race are broadcast across the globe.
“This year as the teams navigate their way through the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way before arriving in Dublin's action-packed coast we have no doubt that visitors and viewers alike will see that Ireland has something to offer that is unlike any other destination. We look forward to welcoming the teams, their crews, families and friends in June.”
While the action will be on the high seas, and the celebrations will be in some of Ireland’s best cities and towns, Minister Simon Coveney believes the international spotlight will significantly boost Ireland’s blue economy, bringing jobs and tourism to the country as well as showcasing Ireland’s incredible coastline.
“The technology involved in an event such as this further showcases the development and research currently being carried out in marine-based events, and Ireland will be at the forefront of this Industry,” he added.
“On so many levels this is an incredibly positive event for Ireland and we are very lucky to be able to host it in 2016.
“The Venture World Cup offers us another opportunity to demonstrate everything Ireland can offer as a sports-tourism destination, a centre for marine-based excellence, and a spotlight on our magnificent Wild Atlantic Way to the rest of the world. I am truly looking forward to being part of Venture Cup Ireland 2016.”