THOUSANDS TURN OUT TO WELCOME VOLVO BOATS TO CITY DOCKS

Date Published: 03-Jul-2012

Tens of thousands of people turned out to welcome the Volvo Ocean race boats into Galway docks in the early hours of this morning.

New Zealand yacht Camper was the first boat to pass the finish line at 1.42am winning the ninth and final leg.

However French entry Groupama were the overall winners arriving in second place in the Galway leg but claiming the overall victory of the 11th Volvo Ocean Race, with a 24 point lead.

Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney was in the city to welcome the fleet at the end of its 39 thousand nautical mile world race.

Speaking to Keith Finnegan at the city docks, Minister Coveney said Galway has placed Ireland on a world stage in one of the country’s most successful events.

Chairperson of Lets Do It Global Enda O’Coineen said it was the closest finish in the entire history of the race.