THOUSANDS OF people turned out in Salthill and Galway city at the weekend to view some of the fastest boats ever seen on Irish waters, while the Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race will begin from Galway this morning.
Six vessels will battle it out to claim the title when the race concludes next Saturday on Galway Bay.
Thousands basked in the sunshine as they lined the shore from the Claddagh in the city to Blackrock in Salthill yesterday as powerboats hit speeds of 100km/h on the bay in races that are part of the Galway festival.
Pre-season favourites in the SuperStock 300 horsepower class, British pilots Dan Whapples and Robert Pugh in the Heights of Abraham, were unbeatable over the stretch at Salthill.
In the process they continued the form which saw them hold an edge against all rivals in the first round of the series in Penzance a fortnight ago.
“We are really pleased with this win,” Mr Whapples said. “Galway is an outstanding venue and it was fantastic to race in front of large crowds and interact with all the spectators afterwards.”
The organisers are predicting 150,000 visitors to Galway for the festival over the week in a €10 million boost to the local economy. The seven-day festival is based at Galway Docks and is being managed by Let’s Do It Galway.