TG4’s coverage will get off to a spectacular start with live coverage of the famous RAF Red Arrows air display at 12pm. The Red Arrows, is the aerobatics display team of the British Royal Air Force, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, England. This world-famous squad was formed in 1964 under its present title and has performed over 4,000 displays world-wide in 53 countries.
For the first time in the 35 year history of the race, Ireland is hosting its first Volvo Ocean Race stopover until the 6th June 2009. Over 200,000 people are expected to visit Galway during the event and a huge crowd is expected at Salthill to see both in-port races and TG4’s cameras will be there to capture the festival atmosphere and all the sailing action. TG4’s live coverage will be presented by Dáithí Ó Sé and Síle Ní Bhraonáin with commentary and analysis by Páidí Ó Lionáird and Ruairc Ó Tuairisg.
TG4 has been following the race since it started in Alicante last October with weekly and monthly highlights shows broadcast each weekend. The Volvo Ocean Race is the ultimate mix of world class sporting competition and on the edge adventure, a unique blend of onshore glamour with offshore drama and endurance. Formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race, it is held every three years and is named after its current owner, Volvo. Though the route is changed to accommodate various ports of call, the race typically departs Europe in September or October, and in recent years has had either 9 or 10 legs, with in-port races at many of the stopover cities. The current race started in Alicante, Spain on October 11th 2008 and this latest route covers nearly 39,000 nautical miles, and altogether will take over nine months to complete. The Volvo Open 70 is the current class of racing yachts designed for the Volvo Ocean Race.
