Bill King's Galway Blazer Circumnavigation Will Have 50th Anniversary Celebrated On May 23rd

12th May 2023

Bill King of Oranmore's very innovative junk-schooner-rigged Galway Blazer II will have the Golden Jubilee of her global circumnavigation on May 23rd high-lighted at the 2023 AGM of the international Junk Rig Association

Following this week's Mariners Memorial gathering on Monday at Galway Bay Sailing Club, which featured - among other significant west coast maritime memorabilia - some key items relating to the area's own global-circumnavigating Bill King of Galway Blazer II fame, the word is that the Golden Jubilee of Galway Blazer II's voyage round the world on May 23rd 2023 will be appropriately marked in Galway, and at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the international Junk Rig Association.

Galway Blazer II's junk schooner rig, developed with much input from junk pioneer Blondie Hasler, provided exceptional ease of handling without the crew having to go on deck

At the time of her construction in 1963, traditionalists felt that the 42ft Angus Primrose-designed Galway Blazer II would prove excessively skittish for steering in ocean conditions. But in fact she was a joy to helm, unlike Francis Chichester's longer-keeled Gypsy Moth IV, which Primrose had been pressurised into shaping with an unnecessarily long keel with a closed-hull integral rudder underwater profile that - combined with the boat's lack of stiffness - provided for a very bad-tempered sailing experience

Galway Blazer's remarkable voyage south of the Great Capes was honoured in many ways, not least in an award of the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America. This rare achievement meant that in due course, for some very special years, Ireland was home to four Blue Water Medallists - Bill King of Galway, John Gore-Grimes of Howth, Paddy Barry of Dun Laoghaire & Connemara, and Jarlath Cunnane of Mayo.

As for Bill King's astonishing and rather wonderful Galway Blazer II, some aspects of her concept continue to be ahead of the times, and in her day, she was an exceptionally complete creation in every way.

Three of Ireland's four Blue Water Medallists gathered together at an Irish Cruising Club lunch in Howth YC are (left to right) Paddy Barry, Bill King, and John Gore-Grimes

Published in Galway Harbour, Solo Sailing, Bill King

Published in Galway Harbour

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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Galway Port & Harbour

Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city and port is located on the northeast side of the bay. The bay is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and from 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to 30 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth.

The Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay.

Galway Port FAQs

How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020. Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.