A victory of nature over technology was how the vanquished party described the result of an unprecedented race held in Galway Bay at the weekend.
The race was between 17 windsurfers from Rusheen Bay Windsurfing Centre and Aran Flyer, one of the most powerful ferries operating between Galway and the Aran Islands. It was over a 14-mile stretch of ocean between Inis Mor and Spiddal, Co Galway.
The sponsored event, won decisively by Ireland's top windsurfer, Mr Oisin van Gelderen, raised an estimated £10,000 for the Royal National Life-Boat Institution (RNLI), according to Ms Maire Ni Thuthail, of the Spiddal-based TV series Ros Na Run, which organised the event.
Afterwards, the owner of Aran Flyer, Ms Sally O'Brien, was gracious in defeat, welcoming the opportunity to raise funds for the RNLI.
Representing his colleagues from Rusheen Bay, Mr van Gelderen, aided by nothing but wind, the ocean and skill, reached Spiddal less than an hour after leaving Aran, just ahead of Aran Flyer, despite being hampered by changing winds and a fall towards the end.
His victory delighted all onlookers, even those travelling on the ferry, who had watched the 17 brave windsurfers set out from Aran in cold, misty conditions.
While the windsurfers pitted themselves against the elements, people sailing on the ferry were entertained by local musicians, including Alec Finn of De Danann.
Several of Mr van Gelderen's colleagues did not arrive home until over an hour after him. One suffered mild hypothermia but was pronounced fine after being treated by a doctor on site. Local RNLI crews had accompanied the race in case participants ran into difficulties. Races of 14 miles are not unusual for windsurfers, according to participants, but they normally do not take place so far out to sea.
It was a tough challenge, said Mr Eoghan O Beirn, of Galway, who completed the event in two hours.
"The wind kept changing, which meant we were zig-zagging all round the bay and did about 40 miles instead of 14."
A pipe band and about 200 people were on Spiddal Pier to greet the participants, where Mr Pat Lavelle of the RNLI in Galway expressed his gratitude to all who had raced.
Afterwards, a delighted Mr van Gelderen was presented with a victory plaque in Tigh Thadgh, the pub of the Ros Na Run set.