Irish eyes are smiling

Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race

I’m proud to be representing Ireland. I’m not sure I could’ve been on another boat and watching an Irish team doing their thing.

Friday 15 May 2009 00:30 GMT

The crews are always happy to get into port, but the next one on the track holds a little extra significance for the sailors of Green Dragon.

"We're going home," said navigator Ian Moore.

"It'll be great to be back," added Damian Foxall.

"I have been involved with international teams for a few years and you don't get many chances to sail into Ireland with an Irish team," concluded Justin Slattery.

The trio are Green Dragon's Irish contingent for leg seven and all three are excited to return to a country where much of the team's preparation took place.

"Just fantastic to bring it home," Moore added. "We feel we'll be completing our lap of the planet. We're all excited about the stopover.

"There's a nice feeling that we're going home, my family will be there on the dock. I was just home a fortnight ago in Carrickfergus Sailing Club and did a little talk about the Volvo Race. They are all coming down to Galway to wish us well. It's just really nice to be going back."

Nicer still if they can buck their recent trend of disappointing results. Green Dragon have not finished above sixth at any of the last four scoring stations, paying the price for a keel that weighs approximately a tonne less than those belonging to some of their rivals. To their great credit they are one of just four teams to compete and finish in each of the legs and in-port races, but their difficulties with stability sailing have left them in fifth place, a full 10 points behind fourth.

There is hope, however. The coming leg, while featuring some of the stability sailing their boat dislikes, will feature some of the heavy downwind running it thrives on.

"We are also excited because if the weather plays our way this could be a leg where we'll do alright, it could play to our strengths," Moore said.

"There will be some stability sailing when we get out of here, but hopefully we can stay close and then get into them as we go downwind across the ocean," Foxall added. "Maybe the inshore in Galway we might get some wind for a change and that will help us.

"We need a bit of help!"

The interesting point about the team's leaderboard predicament is the calibre of personnel onboard. They have world champions, Olympic medallists, Volvo veterans and America's Cup sailors. It is a top notch racing crew, not least because of the Irish contingent. Foxall recently won the Barcelona World Race, Moore the TP52 circuit, and Slattery the last version of this event.

Such credentials make them highly desirable in the sailing world and both Foxall and Slattery confirmed they were approached ahead of the race by some of the leading syndicates taking part. Both said no.

"A few of us, most of us, could have been on other projects but we chose this one," Foxall said. "We knew what we were getting into I can certainly say I don't regret it. We are glad to be flying the Irish flag.

"We have done well with what we have and I'm proud to be representing Ireland. I'm not sure I could've been on another boat and watching an Irish team doing their thing. I'm very happy to be involved with this team and sailing back to Galway."

Slattery added: "I could have been with a few other teams but when it came down to it I couldn't sit down and watch an Irish team in front of me. It's just a unique opportunity to be part of an Irish team. We've had a bag of mixed results over the last year but it's been great fun with a great bunch of guys.

"Sailing is quite popular in Ireland - we are surrounded by water - and hopefully the race coming to town does something to help increase its appeal."