Volvo Ocean Race 2012

fishy fishy · 09-07-2012 9:41am

Attended the volvo Ocean Race every day and night - and from once the weather broke on Tuesday after torrential downpours all day, the whole thing came to life and it was a fantastic nine days. Sorry to see it all close down yesterday and back to normal today (a good thing I suppose as partying that hard for another week would have me on a stretcher - LOL).

One one tiny disappointment - was at Sharon Shannon on Saturday night - was it just me or did that show seem a bit flat compared to the other shows. It was very very sedate for the last big concert of the event (IMHO). The other shows were fantastic - The Saw Doctors being the highlight of my week - what a night that was.

stampydmonkey · 09-07-2012 10:08am

fishy fishy wrote: »

One one tiny disappointment - was at Sharon Shannon on Saturday night - was it just me or did that show seem a bit flat compared to the other shows. It was very very sedate for the last big concert of the event (IMHO). The other shows were fantastic - The Saw Doctors being the highlight of my week - what a night that was.

ya last time i saw her was in a big tent, the sound was great and everyone was dancing. thought wit the orchestra it was a bit slow. enjoyable all the same.

hypnotic brass ensemble did it for me on Wednesday, and the silent disco on Friday were my highlights, oh and the boats. will be sorry to see them go, but with the film fleadh, arts festival, and races theres still plenty on the horizon

squonk · 09-07-2012 10:34am

Treadhead wrote: »

Well the finale was a huge ball of ****e.... shame to end such a fantastic festival on such a poor night....

Who were the special guests? I had a ticket for the show and went along. The drummers at the start were great but the band from Waterford weren't to my taste and the exertions of the week caught up with me so I legged it home for an early night. I'd paid for a ticket so it was only money but I felt sorry for the volunteers who deserved a god night and didn't seem to be getting it. I spoke to a volunteer on Monday who was heading in at 7:30 for an all-nighter when the boats were arriving. I at least thought someone like the Hypnotic Brass would have been on as a reward for dedication like that but things didn't seem to be headed in that direction.

BeardySi · 09-07-2012 10:48am

That was pretty much it. An African group played a couple of songs and the mc bloke rapped a bit. Then there was a raffle...

people seemed to be hanging around in disbelief afterwards hoping it was all a joke and waiting for something good to happen. The drummers were the definite highlight.

ben.schlomo · 09-07-2012 10:54am

squonk wrote: »

Who were the special guests? I had a ticket for the show and went along. The drummers at the start were great but the band from Waterford weren't to my taste and the exertions of the week caught up with me so I legged it home for an early night. I'd paid for a ticket so it was only money but I felt sorry for the volunteers who deserved a god night and didn't seem to be getting it. I spoke to a volunteer on Monday who was heading in at 7:30 for an all-nighter when the boats were arriving. I at least thought someone like the Hypnotic Brass would have been on as a reward for dedication like that but things didn't seem to be headed in that direction.

That would have been some coup.

09-07-2012 10:59am

Had two great weekends again at the VOR I'm just regretting not taking the week off and being back in Galway for everything, though I couldn't really with having race week booked off.

Pity its all over but only 3 weeks to the races now, bring it on

I have lots of pics but havent had time to sort them yet, here are two from out in the bay during the in-port racing.

antoobrien · 09-07-2012 11:44am

yer man! wrote: »

Anyone see the state of cross/quay/shop street on sat night? It was like walking through a dump, cans and glass everywhere. Never realized the council do such a great job come morning when everything is clear again. No real point to this, I'm just incredibly impressed on how well the street cleaners do their jobs.

I was in the area at about midnight Sat night, it was borderline dangerous the amount of people that were about. I wouldn't like to have seen hwat would have happned if someone fell in the junction around High St/Cross St/Quay st. It was very hard to get a drink - grand if you're around all day and well lubricated, not so nice if you only got in at 10.30.

Anyhow, finally got to go in around the village Sunday morning and I was well impressed with how good the place looked. Have to say it looked well run, well done to everybody concerned, you've done Galway proud.

thesandeman · 09-07-2012 11:50am

Only got four hours max sleep each day over the festival due to work and play. Sleep pattern messed up now though. Been awake since 7 even thought I have nuttin to do till five today.

Got to most things except Salthill.

Best points for me (not including the excellent boat related stuff) were Thin Lizzy, The Sawdoctors, Oddsocks Revival and The Atlantic Pirates. Also the Global Village was a great place to escape to for a break from the madness. Even ended up on the big wheel and the dodgems which I haven't done for 30 years.

Bad points were that bloody screechy woman (was working close by so every time she appeared I had to endure both her and the customers moaning about her) and the lack of the Soup in Bread stall that I had been looking forward to since the last time.

Congrats to the Volunteers, Cleaners, Guards and Security who really kept everything together with their relaxed but professional attitude to everything.

ROLL ON 2015!!

kippy · 09-07-2012 12:34pm

antoobrien wrote: »

I was in the area at about midnight Sat night, it was borderline dangerous the amount of people that were about. I wouldn't like to have seen hwat would have happned if someone fell in the junction around High St/Cross St/Quay st. It was very hard to get a drink - grand if you're around all day and well lubricated, not so nice if you only got in at 10.30.

Anyhow, finally got to go in around the village Sunday morning and I was well impressed with how good the place looked. Have to say it looked well run, well done to everybody concerned, you've done Galway proud.

Avoided Shop/Quay street most of the time and there are plenty pubs outside those areas with a great atmosphere and accessible bar/toilet.

Brad768 · 09-07-2012 12:46pm

Maverick Sabre and Ryan Sheridan were the highlights for me. Maverick put on a great show, been following him for a couple of years now so it was great to finally see him perform

Rob A. Bank · 09-07-2012 1:01pm

pepe00 wrote: »

dont they use gloves or what ?

Long distance offshore sailors do wear gloves or mittens when the weather is cold, but the nature of work on deck means that they often have to change very quickly to fiddley stuff that can only be done with bare hands.

Fingerless gloves work fine if you are only offshore for a few hours but on the long offshore legs they don't last, serve to retain dampness around the hands all the time and begin to smell like a sewer after a few days.

Totally waterproof gloves would leave the hands in a worse state of soggyness.

And finally... gloves are for ladyboys

squonk · 09-07-2012 1:19pm

Treadhead wrote: »

That was pretty much it. An African group played a couple of songs and the mc bloke rapped a bit. Then there was a raffle...

people seemed to be hanging around in disbelief afterwards hoping it was all a joke and waiting for something good to happen. The drummers were the definite highlight.

Oh christ! I really thought the Special Guests coming on later would be the Kanyu Tree or Keywest or something? That's a real kick in the arse after volunteering in fairness. It was undoubtedly the poorest gig of the festival from what I saw of it. It hardly seems worth their while having it even. Were you a volunteer? I presume you all got free in and some free drinks? I hope so anyway....

dinneenp · 09-07-2012 1:23pm

Hi,
Some shots of The Stunning on Friday night (great gig)
My full set on flickr

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Cheers,
Pa.

ratracer · 09-07-2012 3:24pm

squonk wrote: »

Oh christ! I really thought the Special Guests coming on later would be the Kanyu Tree or Keywest or something? That's a real kick in the arse after volunteering in fairness. It was undoubtedly the poorest gig of the festival from what I saw of it. It hardly seems worth their while having it even. Were you a volunteer? I presume you all got free in and some free drinks? I hope so anyway....

I volunteered in 2009, but felt that vol's were treated like sh1t during the event and after. Obviously lessons weren't learned from this. The reason the army guy s were going around in the tracksuits was to make up for the vol shortage. It seems this end of gig party once again shows how little regard is shown to the volunteers. This is a real pity because the amount of time they give up, for what is essentially a major commercial event, really should be better recognised by the organisers.

dmcg90 · 09-07-2012 3:45pm

ratracer wrote: »

This is a real pity because the amount of time they give up, for what is essentially a major commercial event, really should be better recognised by the organisers.

Exactly. I have no idea why there is a need for volunteers for a commercial event, maybe for the NUI Galway tent?. As a student ambassador for NUIG i've been asked numerous times to volunteer. Surely Volvo have enough money to pay for people to direct people around or mind traffic. Thats all I've seen volunteers do!

PhoenixParker · 09-07-2012 3:57pm

dmcg90 wrote: »

Exactly. I have no idea why there is a need for volunteers for a commercial event, maybe for the NUI Galway tent?. As a student ambassador for NUIG i've been asked numerous times to volunteer. Surely Volvo have enough money to pay for people to direct people around or mind traffic. Thats all I've seen volunteers do!

Really, you've no idea why there's a need for volunteers?

Think of the other festivals around the place. They charge, and they charge alot of money. Nearly everything at the VOR was free.

Forbidden fruit was something like E100 for three days and it was a smaller festival than the week long event staged in Galway. Even if you go to something like taste of Dublin, you get charged entry, the exhibitors get charged to exhibit and everything you eat while you're there has to be paid for.

How much would you normally pay to see the saw doctors, sharon shannon, thin lizzy, the stunning?

That they manage to put anything on at all, without charging some sort of entry fee is incredible. Volvo sponsor the race, they don't sponsor the festival. I'm not sure what they contribute to the Lets Do It Galway coffers but it's nothing like enough to run what was put on. Dublin can't even manage to arrange a free concert in the Phoenix Park, though there's been talk about it for years.

I do agree that it sounds like the volunteers should have been treated better, it couldn't be done without them, but all this talk of a "commercial festival", when there's no entry fee for 90% of events is a bit ridiculous to me.

kippy · 09-07-2012 4:19pm

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Really, you've no idea why there's a need for volunteers?

Think of the other festivals around the place. They charge, and they charge alot of money. Nearly everything at the VOR was free.

Forbidden fruit was something like E100 for three days and it was a smaller festival than the week long event staged in Galway. Even if you go to something like taste of Dublin, you get charged entry, the exhibitors get charged to exhibit and everything you eat while you're there has to be paid for.

How much would you normally pay to see the saw doctors, sharon shannon, thin lizzy, the stunning?

That they manage to put anything on at all, without charging some sort of entry fee is incredible. Volvo sponsor the race, they don't sponsor the festival. I'm not sure what they contribute to the Lets Do It Galway coffers but it's nothing like enough to run what was put on. Dublin can't even manage to arrange a free concert in the Phoenix Park, though there's been talk about it for years.

I do agree that it sounds like the volunteers should have been treated better, it couldn't be done without them, but all this talk of a "commercial festival", when there's no entry fee for 90% of events is a bit ridiculous to me.

Totally agree.
There's probably a confusing pricing structure but didn't Galway have to PAY the VOR to host the event, then there were all the facilities that had to be paid for. When you think of it, the organisers of the galway leg had very little "income" as such (from what I can tell).
While there may have been 80 million generated in the region, the event cost about 10 million according to some sources and the organising committee are gonna be running it tight to have enough cash to cover the event itself.

The volunteers should probably have been treated better but I really doubt the organisers of this even had much to spend on anything else.

ratracer · 09-07-2012 5:07pm

Wouldn't it be interesting to see the accounts for the whole race overall...

inisboffin · 09-07-2012 5:43pm

Many of the smaller music acts were not paid either, so were also essentially volunteering.

Rob A. Bank · 09-07-2012 6:02pm

The images of the race were carried to an estimated global TV audience of 3 Billion in 50 countries and a 3.2 Billion global print readership. I look forward with interest to seeing the number of millions of hits on the VOR site. Tourism Ireland has been working in key markets everywhere the race stopped to keep Galway and Ireland in the spotlight, and our Council did it’s bit too. And practically every time the race was mentioned in an article, ’the finish in Galway’ was mentioned too.

This is the kind of global audience and publicity for the city that no marketing budget could ever buy !

So enough of the whinging an whineing about what are essentially minor difficulties.

Let’s keep the BIG picture in focus.

Majesticzebras · 09-07-2012 7:22pm

dinneenp wrote: »

Hi,
Some shots of The Stunning on Friday night (great gig)
My full set on flickr

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Cheers,
Pa.

eagle10 · 09-07-2012 8:20pm

Paddyfield · 09-07-2012 8:27pm

Steve Wall making video for his daughter

kippy · 09-07-2012 9:58pm

Rob A. Bank wrote: »

The images of the race were carried to an estimated global TV audience of 3 Billion in 50 countries and a 3.2 Billion global print readership. I look forward with interest to seeing the number of millions of hits on the VOR site. Tourism Ireland has been working in key markets everywhere the race stopped to keep Galway and Ireland in the spotlight, and our Council did it’s bit too. And practically every time the race was mentioned in an article, ’the finish in Galway’ was mentioned too.

This is the kind of global audience and publicity for the city that no marketing budget could ever buy !

So enough of the whinging an whineing about what are essentially minor difficulties.

Let’s keep the BIG picture in focus.

Fair enough, but the big picture will be harder to paint next time round if the people who gave their time for free and those who provided services to the event aren't looked after.

Paddyfield · 09-07-2012 11:10pm

http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0709/media-3339642.html#

Limerick has been awarded the city of culture for 2014. My instant reaction was that Galway should have got it but on reflection, we don't deserve it.

Galway is the city of craic 2012/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21//22/23/23/25 etc

galwayrush · 10-07-2012 12:02am

Paddyfield wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0709/media-3339642.html#

Limerick has been awarded the city of culture for 2014. My instant reaction was that Galway should have got it but on reflection, we don't deserve it.

Galway is the city of craic 2012/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21//22/23/23/25 etc

I think that's going to be an annual Irish thing, nothing to do with the European city of culture.

MyNameis.com · 10-07-2012 12:32am

I spent two days in galway for the ocean race and i had a great time! galway seems the perfect place for VOR with the dock in the heart of the city. For a mostly free event it was top class and the crowds reflect that.

It's a pitty to see some people knocking the VOR when really it's more events like it we need in this country, i know its not ideal when the noise is going on late at night for the local people but the coverage it gave of galway and ireland to a huge audiences world wide is priceless!

Well done Galway and hopefuly VOR will return 2015

mrkiscool2 · 10-07-2012 1:44am

The whole thing about volunteers being treated badly this time simply isn't true! There was a party tonight and last night for ALL volunteers! I didn't go to either, but I have to say we were well dressed, well fed and had a great sense of community, togetherness and friendship, something that can be difficult to garner in less than a fortnight! I have to say, it was a truly great experience i will never forget.

ratracer · 10-07-2012 7:20am

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

The whole thing about volunteers being treated badly this time simply isn't true! There was a party tonight and last night for ALL volunteers! I didn't go to either, but I have to say we were well dressed, well fed and had a great sense of community, togetherness and friendship, something that can be difficult to garner in less than a fortnight! I have to say, it was a truly great experience i will never forget.

Fair play, glad to hear that this time round

John_Rambo · 10-07-2012 8:34am

Serena Ancient Grain wrote: »

I have lots of pics but havent had time to sort them yet, here are two from out in the bay during the in-port racing.

Embarrassing for Telephonica!!

Brad768 · 10-07-2012 11:15am

John_Rambo wrote: »

Embarrassing for Telephonica!!

LOL you would of thought that if they see multiple teams with spinni's up that they would of thought it was the way to go

Storm 10 · 10-07-2012 11:29am

All of the Volvo boats are gone now, Camper was the last to depart she went around 10-30 this morning. Bon Voyage lads and thanks for a great festival.

the keen edge · 10-07-2012 1:46pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

Embarrassing for Telephonica!!

Brad768 wrote: »

LOL you would of thought that if they see multiple teams with spinni's up that they would of thought it was the way to go

I think that is the windward mark.

Telefonica are on Port, rounding the mark, effectively sailing upwind.
All others sailing downwind on Starboard.
Sanya have rounded, bear away, kite up and jib still up.
Groupama as Sanya but with jib coming down.
Camper as Groupama with jib fully down.

ValerieR · 10-07-2012 1:48pm

A few of my photos are here.

I'm depressed ...

Iwannahurl · 10-07-2012 2:21pm

ValerieR wrote: »

A few of my photos are here.

I'm depressed ...

Wind gone out of your sails?

Luffing all the way home? But not three sheets to the wind I hope...

Brad768 · 10-07-2012 2:29pm

the keen edge wrote: »

I think that is the windward mark.

Telefonica are on Port, rounding the mark, effectively sailing upwind.
All others sailing downwind on Starboard.
Sanya have rounded, bear away, kite up and jib still up.
Groupama as Sanya but with jib coming down.
Camper as Groupama with jib fully down.

ah you could be right! Was hard identifying on an ipod

10-07-2012 2:45pm

the keen edge wrote: »

I think that is the windward mark.

Telefonica are on Port, rounding the mark, effectively sailing upwind.
All others sailing downwind on Starboard.
Sanya have rounded, bear away, kite up and jib still up.
Groupama as Sanya but with jib coming down.
Camper as Groupama with jib fully down.

Telefonica had effectively rounded the mark in that photo, they were a little slower to get the kite up than Sanya who in my previous photo in that sequence had it up in almost the same position as Tele were in this photo.

John_Rambo · 10-07-2012 4:36pm

The sail should be up two metres away from the mark!!!! Something must have linked or got snared. I'd say there were a few swear words from the pit!

the keen edge · 10-07-2012 6:26pm

Serena Ancient Grain wrote: »

Telefonica had effectively rounded the mark in that photo, they were a little slower to get the kite up than Sanya who in my previous photo in that sequence had it up in almost the same position as Tele were in this photo.

Yeah actually Telefonica are on starboard, foredeck crew can be seen.

John_Rambo wrote: »

The sail should be up two metres away from the mark!!!! Something must have linked or got snared. I'd say there were a few swear words from the pit!

You cant fully hoist a kite before the mark, sailing upwind is impossible with the kite, which you have to do until rounding the mark.
It can, and should be, sneaked a few metres before rounding but cant be fully jumped until the bear away set and easing of the main and jib allows the kite to sneak up on the leeward side. The spinnaker is also banded so possible it is hoisted, but not filled.

super_furry · 10-07-2012 6:42pm

I'll say one thing - Sharon Shannon really loves dogs.

John_Rambo · 10-07-2012 8:30pm

the keen edge wrote: »

You cant fully hoist a kite before the mark

I know, that's why I said away from the mark.

the keen edge · 10-07-2012 8:44pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

I know, that's why I said away from the mark.

Apologies I was for some reason reading your away as not yet reached the mark.

John_Rambo · 10-07-2012 8:46pm

the keen edge wrote: »

Apologies I was for some reason reading your away as not yet reached the mark.

Ah, yeah, probably should have explained it properly. See the speed they get those sails up with the coffee grinders???? Epic stuff. Went up a mast on one before, very fast. And scary.

dinneenp · 11-07-2012 11:31am

Some photos:

Sunset at Volvo Ocean Race, Galway by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr

Volvo Ocean Race by Photoblog.ie (Patrick Dinneen), on Flickr

the keen edge · 11-07-2012 12:51pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

Ah, yeah, probably should have explained it properly. See the speed they get those sails up with the coffee grinders???? Epic stuff. Went up a mast on one before, very fast. And scary.

Bravo, was it Green Dragon?
You must be a fellow Bowman so, not asking which boat but do you sail in GBSC, or Dublin as per your location?

MrVoracious · 11-07-2012 1:21pm

Anyone see the group sitting around the busker with the strat on saturday night - you'd never see that in dublin!

Pen Rua · 11-07-2012 2:21pm

VOR uploaded their highlights show for Galway, if anyone is interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IAYtEhGrzg&feature=youtu.be

Rob A. Bank · 11-07-2012 5:50pm

They have also uploaded their 53 min Documentary of Leg 9 from Lorient to Galway.

A blow by blow account of the leg with great shots of the Fastnet rounding, the Blasket Sound and compliments from the skippers about their Galway welcome.

http://youtu.be/6wYZrZ-37YM

Majesticzebras · 11-07-2012 9:52pm

Final leg on TG4 now......passing the Aran Islands

Mars Bar · 11-07-2012 10:07pm

Majesticzebras wrote: »

Final leg on TG4 now......passing the Aran Islands

The City looks good in it.

I can hear that bloody announcer shouting though!

The sailors seem to appreciate the welcome they got.

Volvo Ocean Race 2012

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