Volvo Ocean Race 2012

squonk · 06-05-2012 12:44pm

Great band but hardly a big name in rock at his stage. Free is free though.

Diabhal Beag · 06-05-2012 3:15pm

In fairness the Coronas were pretty much the headline act last time aside from the Stunning and it'll cost the large sum of 0 euro.

Rob A. Bank · 06-05-2012 11:47pm

A very good 50 minute documentary of VOR Leg 5, where the boats went from New Zealand around Cape Horn to Brazil, getting absolutely hammered by the Southern Ocean in the process.

The difficulty of finding the balance between having a very light fast boat and being able to survive the most difficult and dangerous Ocean on earth is well illustrated.

Man and his puny machines definitely came out second best...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE1ebE34lac

Rob A. Bank · 09-05-2012 12:04am

Update on the state of play in the Volvo Ocean Race Leg 6:

The boats are running out of food and wind in the Bermuda triangle on their way to Miami.

Puma (USA) is 10 miles ahead of Camper (NZ) with about 200 miles to go to the finish. About 70 miles back, Groupama (France) is in third place just ahead of Telefonica (Spain) playing chicken with the Carribean reefs. Abu Dhabi brings up the rear, about 130 miles behind the leader.

Live tracker here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html

macgabhs · 15-05-2012 8:13pm

Just wondering what peoples opinions are on what day(s) would be best to take off work during the Volvo?

thesandeman · 16-05-2012 1:47am

If its going to be as good as the last one I would suggest all of them!

c_man · 16-05-2012 10:20am

macgabhs wrote: »

Just wondering what peoples opinions are on what day(s) would be best to take off work during the Volvo?

I'd wait for an accurate weather forecast before booking any tbh :pac:

cfeeneyinterior · 16-05-2012 1:47pm

c_man wrote: »

I'd wait for an accurate weather forecast before booking any tbh :pac:

Definitely! The last one was on a June bank holiday and came with cracking weather for 10 days or so that completely made the whole thing happen. No weather and it will be a big floppy flop.

I_smell_fear · 16-05-2012 2:13pm

cfeeneyinterior wrote: »

Definitely! The last one was on a June bank holiday and came with cracking weather for 10 days or so that completely made the whole thing happen. No weather and it will be a big floppy flop.

Yep, same way with the majority of events in Ireland, largely weather dependent

here's hoping!

Rob A. Bank · 16-05-2012 7:34pm

macgabhs wrote: »

Just wondering what peoples opinions are on what day(s) would be best to take off work during the Volvo?

Take your pick... As well as the Race Village at the Docks and the Ocean Village in South Park being open from 10am - 10pm, the main events of the Volvo race are as follows :

Saturday 30/06/2012... Hookers and Dhows race on the bay and Villages open.
Tuesday 03/07/2012... Fleet expected to arrive from Lorient (weather dependent)
Tuesday 03/07/2012... 20.00 hrs Welcome to Galway Arrival party at the Docks.
Friday 06/07/2012... 11.00 hrs Three Pro Am races on the bay.
Saturday 07/07/2012... 11.30 hrs The final In-Port Race on the bay.
Saturday 07/07/2012... 16.00 hrs Public Prize giving of the Ocean Race Trophy
Sunday 08/07/1212... 18.00 hrs The closing ceremony of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012.

There is the prospect of an exciting finale, with the overall winner of the round the world race being decided by the In-Port race on the bay… where 6 points are available for first place, 5 for second etc. The top four boats are only separated by 14 points at present.
See: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/scoreboard/rdc.html

More details of the events in Galway here: http://www.volvooceanracegalway.ie/en-gb/galwayevents.aspx?selecteddate=20110701

Unrealistic · 17-05-2012 8:53am

squonk wrote: »

Great band but hardly a big name in rock at his stage. Free is free though.

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

In fairness the Coronas were pretty much the headline act last time aside from the Stunning and it'll cost the large sum of 0 euro.

I wasn't around for the last one so I would be grateful if someone can clarify how this works. Can you just turn up on the day to see or do you need to still need to apply for a ticket somehow even though it's free? (That was the way it worked for the Tall Ships Race in Waterford last year to limit numbers for crowd control.) Thanks in advance.

fishy fishy · 17-05-2012 8:56am

just turn up at the docks for the free entertainment.

Diabhal Beag · 17-05-2012 9:22am

Just walk over to where the music is emanating from in a penguin-like fashion.

Aiel · 17-05-2012 11:48am

Just 17 pts seperates the top 4 boats at the moment.The transatlantic leg from Miami to Lisbon starts this Sunday.The Live Race Tracker on the offical site is great,in the space of a few hours things can change quite quickly.
Heres a link to the offical site home page showing the leader board:

http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/home.html

The best case scenario would be for 2 or 3 boats to be in with a shout of winning it when they are on the final leg between Lorient and here,they would round Black Head together and then there'd be some drag race on the bay to the finish line:-).Also the In-port race would then be even better to watch if it still wasnt decided.

Mrs OBumble · 17-05-2012 2:01pm

fishy fishy wrote: »

just turn up at the docks for the free entertainment.

Even better, live in the many apartments on the Docks, and the party's at your place.

Mrs OBumble · 17-05-2012 2:05pm

Serena Ancient Grain wrote: »

Fair play to you galwayspur but you must be in the minority. If I was taking a week off for the ocean race it would be spent enjoying it, on the beer around town, relaxing etc etc. I dont think you will find too many people willing to use up their holidays to work 8 hours shifts at an event which would be much more fun if you were just attending it rather than working at it.

I'll put on my W&J hat for a second, and comment that many employers would not be impressed with you using the time that they give you for rest and relaxation working full-time for someone else. It might be ok if the work you were doing was totally unlike your day-job, and totally non-stressful. But somehow I doubt it.

galwayspur · 17-05-2012 4:56pm

JustMary wrote: »

I'll put on my W&J hat for a second, and comment that many employers would not be impressed with you using the time that they give you for rest and relaxation working full-time for someone else. It might be ok if the work you were doing was totally unlike your day-job, and totally non-stressful. But somehow I doubt it.

Doing something along the same lines as your "paid" job could be frowned upon by an employer I suppose. Very few (if any) aspects of the VOR volunteer experience were stressful, I can't recall any though...

There was (is?) a great deal of flexibility with regard to the hours that I was there for, the people that over saw the volunteers were totally fine with people that had other comittments and had to leave early or start late. I reckon the "8 hour" requirement is a logistical tool that they are using to get an idea of the people that will be around the most. For every one of those bods there'll be 3 or 4 volunteers that are available for a couple of hours here and there.

Fwiw, my "day job" is totally different to anything I did during the VOR stopover, although my office is only up the road from the docks. It was great seeing a few of my colleagues down there on their lunch breaks etc, it was even better not having to go back with them and staying out in the sun.

I'd 100% recommend volunteering, whatever hours you can, the experience is well worth it.

yeehaw · 17-05-2012 5:50pm

galwayspur- head of recruitment VOR Galway stopover 2012.

Diabhal Beag · 17-05-2012 5:57pm

yeehaw me and Phil Collins were wondering were you in contact with Peter Gabriel lately?

yeehaw · 17-05-2012 11:12pm

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

yeehaw me and Phil Collins were wondering were you in contact with Peter Gabriel lately?

I lost my job at VOR while trying to convince those corporate shills which way to go with the music. Peter was excited and ready to do his thing. Regrettably the budget only allowed for one of Pete or Thin Lizzy. I was the only advocate for Pete. When the ballot was cast in VOR HQ I lost the plot. I lunged for my boss, went for his eyes I did. I had one finger in his his eye socket when I was pulled off him. I mean ffs the moron didn't even know that Phil Lynott and Gary Moore had passed on when he booked them!! I was dragged screaming from the room. Thankfully I have an Uncle in a position of influence and he convinced those sons of whores to drop the charges. I've been sitting in my house in my underpants listening to Solsbury Hill since.

I'm not sure why you insist that you know that talentless no mark Collins. Everyone knows Pete was the talent in Genesis. No one gets on with Phil. I'd certainly give his daughter one though.

thesandeman · 18-05-2012 1:42am

Sure your not thinking of Joan?

Diabhal Beag · 18-05-2012 9:52am

yeehaw wrote: »

I'm not sure why you insist that you know that talentless no mark Collins. Everyone knows Pete was the talent in Genesis. No one gets on with Phil. I'd certainly give his daughter one though.

Just because you lost your volunteer role does not mean you have to stoop to such levels to slag my Phil.

*Puts back in monocle*

yeehaw · 18-05-2012 10:03am

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Just because you lost your volunteer role does not mean you have to stoop to such levels to slag my Phil.

*Puts back in monocle*

As I've said before I wasn't a volunteer. My salary was significant. I'm investing what I've got put away in aviation. In aviation.

Diabhal Beag · 18-05-2012 11:14am

yeehaw I have something to confess. I am your father, Phil Collins.

yeehaw · 18-05-2012 11:59am

Well even if you are I'd still throw one into your daughter.

Rob A. Bank · 20-05-2012 1:22pm

Volvo Ocean Race Beo at 17:45 on TG4 today.

Live coverage from the start of the 7th Leg as the boats depart Miami and begin their journey to Lisbon in Portugal, a distance of 6,649 kilometres.

Light winds are forecast for the mid Atlantic, making this an interesting challenge for the navigators to maximize their speed in tricky winds.

Once underway the boats can be tracked in realtime here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html

sue z · 20-05-2012 9:39pm

Hey, what date are Thin Lizzy gonna be playing can anyone tell me?

Please and thanks

Rob A. Bank · 21-05-2012 2:25am

A short 5 minute taster of what to expect when the In-Port race is off the Prom in Salthill on Saturday 7th July, instead of off South Beach in Miami last Saturday.

I hope we get Miami weather but don’t have a gobsh*te driving a four storey high spectator craft to screw up the race for the leading boat as they approach the finish !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FddWO_WG_rk

Overall leader board after Miami In-Port Race:

1. Telephonic (Spain) 165
2. Groupama (France) 158
3. Camper (NZ) 152
4. Puma (USA) 151
5. Abu Dhabi 74
6. Sanya (China) 27

Only 7 points between 1st and 2nd and a 14 point spread over the first 4 boats, with plenty of points to play for yet.

(30, 25, 20 etc. for the places on the long legs and 6, 5, 4 etc for the In-Port legs)

Tightening up nicely for an exciting finish in Galway (I hope).

Chicken1 · 21-05-2012 9:39am

Looks great on the tv but standing on the prom at Salthill watching sails a few miles away is not very exciting. I watched the last time and quite honestly there is nothing to see unless you are out there, not knocking in any way but when they are well away from the coast its boring.

Aiel · 21-05-2012 11:48am

On top of the hill beside Silver Strand beach is a great place to watch the in-port race,thats where we were last time and we had a great view,i highly recommend people to go there to watch it.It will be jammed with cars down there though so walk or cycle there if you can or park up at Barna Church and walk down.

21-05-2012 12:04pm

I was out in the bay in the thick of it on a friends yacht the last time it was excellent being out there, got so close to the action. That's the plan again this time.

I_smell_fear · 21-05-2012 2:28pm

People actually watch the boats?

squonk · 21-05-2012 2:59pm

I_smell_fear wrote: »

People actually watch the boats?

I know! They'll entertain me for about 20 minutes whereas the free gigs and shenanigans will entertain me for far longer. I've done some sailing but I'm not mad into the whole thing. It's great they're coming but if all this ado was going on for a container of monkeys being unloaded at the docks, I'd be equally as interested!

JohnCleary · 21-05-2012 6:12pm

Chicken1 wrote: »

Looks great on the tv but standing on the prom at Salthill watching sails a few miles away is not very exciting. I watched the last time and quite honestly there is nothing to see unless you are out there, not knocking in any way but when they are well away from the coast its boring.

There'll be plenty of commercial boats offering day's out on the water.

I don't know about costs etc. but if I recall from last time it was about 35euro a head - not bad for a day out on the water.

Mrs OBumble · 21-05-2012 10:21pm

Aiel wrote: »

On top of the hill beside Silver Strand beach is a great place to watch the in-port race,... It will be jammed with cars down there though so walk or cycle there if you can

On a fine day, Silver Strand is pretty accessible by public transport too, about 15/20-ish minutes walk from Knocknacarra. (No 6, Barna neighbourhood map.)

Chicken1 · 23-05-2012 10:20am

When are the boats due to arrive in Galway, the Volvo website says the boats are due to depart Lorient on the 1st of July that means it will be a few days before they get to Galway, if the weather is calm it could even be longer. That could cause a lot of grief for people coming to see them.

JohnCleary · 23-05-2012 10:41am

Chicken1 wrote: »

When are the boats due to arrive in Galway, the Volvo website says the boats are due to depart Lorient on the 1st of July that means it will be a few days before they get to Galway, if the weather is calm it could even be longer. That could cause a lot of grief for people coming to see them.

They're due in on the 3rd but there is no guarantee. It's sailing, spectators will have to deal with it

pleasant Co. · 23-05-2012 11:34am

JohnCleary wrote: »

They're due in on the 3rd but there is no guarantee. It's sailing, spectators will have to deal with it

:pac: just saving this quote for another time :pac:

yeehaw · 23-05-2012 11:39am

Define 'a lot of grief'? Vast majority of spectators are unlikely to be heading to Galway until the weekend.

Chicken1 · 23-05-2012 12:02pm

yeehaw wrote: »

Define 'a lot of grief'? Vast majority of spectators are unlikely to be heading to Galway until the weekend.

There are two weekends for the event, I thought the boats would be in for the start which is the 30th June, I am sure there will be a lot more thinking this as it runs from June 30th to July 8. That means people arriving the 1st weekend will not see any boats.

McTigs · 23-05-2012 12:20pm

JohnCleary wrote: »

They're due in on the 3rd but there is no guarantee. It's sailing, spectators will have to deal with it

Reminds me of my mum the last time round. She reckined the boats should have been instructed to wait around the back of the aran islands and then arrive in to the bay at a "reasonable hour.... like after 12 o clock mass"

yeehaw · 23-05-2012 1:35pm

Chicken1 wrote: »

There are two weekends for the event, I thought the boats would be in for the start which is the 30th June, I am sure there will be a lot more thinking this as it runs from June 30th to July 8. That means people arriving the 1st weekend will not see any boats.

People arriving the first weekend were never going to see any boats anyway.

Who gives a **** about boats?

JohnCleary · 23-05-2012 1:42pm

Chicken1 wrote: »

There are two weekends for the event, I thought the boats would be in for the start which is the 30th June, I am sure there will be a lot more thinking this as it runs from June 30th to July 8. That means people arriving the 1st weekend will not see any boats.

If people are too lazy to at least check the timetable/schedule before 'booking time off' etc. then they've no one to blame but themselves.

Regardless of when anyone comes between June 30th - July 8th, I suspect they'll still have a ball.

I've my case of Buckie and berth in the Docks booked... bring it on

McTigs · 23-05-2012 2:24pm

Serena Ancient Grain wrote: »

I was out in the bay in the thick of it on a friends yacht the last time it was excellent being out there, got so close to the action. That's the plan again this time.

Did you wear your Dubarrys for the occasion?

JohnCleary · 23-05-2012 2:36pm

McTigs wrote: »

Did you wear your Dubarrys for the occasion?

The weather was awesome so i'd say he was barefoot, I certainly was

(got burned though)

23-05-2012 2:56pm

McTigs wrote: »

Did you wear your Dubarrys for the occasion?

No, didn't have a pair at the time.

JohnCleary wrote: »

(got burned though)

i got scalded too, not a tube of sun cream between about 8 of us, we had beer though

.

JohnCleary · 23-05-2012 3:04pm

Serena Ancient Grain wrote: »

i got scalded too, not a tube of sun cream between about 8 of us, we had beer though .

I wear a light factor sun-scream when i'm on the water anymore, even if its cloudy. Must be the old age kicking in

Rob A. Bank · 23-05-2012 5:05pm

yeehaw wrote: »

People arriving the first weekend were never going to see any boats anyway.

Who gives a **** about boats?

Great to see the ancient Irish art of belitteling and begrudgery is alive and kicking in Galway !

But I am also sure many people come to Galway for Race Week without ever darkening the stand in Ballybrit, although many horse racing fans would say they are missing the essence of the week.

This 50 minute look at the sometimes tragic history of round the world ocean racing might help to put the significance of this global event into focus.

It's an awful lot more than the narrow parochial view of seeing how pissed you can get, or how many free concerts you can crash !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp4ydArnzgc

biko · 23-05-2012 5:25pm

I don't give much **** about the boats, I do however welcome the mighty craic this will be!

GekkePrutser · 23-05-2012 5:36pm

biko wrote: »

I don't give much **** about the boats, I do however welcome the mighty craic this will be!

Same here, it will bring so much fun to Galway! Last time it felt like it was the center of the world, if only for a few days...

I never saw much of the actual race, it was so far out in the bay that all I could see were some boats slowly maneuvering.

But I wasn't really looking for it either tbh... Hope the weather will be as good this time.

Volvo Ocean Race 2012

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