Afloat.ie caught up with Damian Foxall on dry land for once - in the middle of Eyre Square, Galway in fact – on the eve of departure for Sweden. The Irish Sailor of the Year took a look at what lies ahead when he steps off the Green Dragon in Russia.
The 40 year-old Kerryman says it is appropriate to compare the stop–over to Ireland's successful staging of the Ryder Cup. It has been a success he is proud of, particularly the schools programme that has seen 10,000 children through the race village. It would be a shame, he says, if the Green Dragon team broke up and the boat was sold off. Instead, he would like to see the Dragon men continue in a reduced state in the months ahead. An extreme 40 catamaran campaign is one example of what might be possible in a scaled down future project.
He has had several approaches already to join new campaigns for the next VOR but he is particularly interested in campaigns with an early momentum. His partner in the Barcelona World Race win, Jeann-Pierre Dick, has asked Damian to join him again in the Round Europe race in September and he has signed up for it. Except for that he is making no decisions except for some well earned time off with his wife Suzy-Ann and son Oisin. Listen to his comments (seven minutes) in our podcast below:
