Volvo Ocean Race Galway

The Volvo Ocean Race came to Galway, Ireland, during the last week of May and the first week of June 2009 and a number of aviation events were planned for the event.

On Saturday 30th May the Red Arrows gave a display over Galway Bay at Salthill before the Volvo Ocean Race boats started their series of inshore races.

The Reds displayed in almost clear skies, the only problem being that I was having to shoot into the sun. This made for less than ideal photography but it provided the opportunity for some different pictures.

(The Reds arrived on Friday 29th and before landing at their Shannon Airport base for the weekend they flew over Carnmore Airport and Galway City. One picture of them flying over Carnmore is shown on the left)

On the Saturday following the red Arrows display the Air Corps provided a 5 ship Pilatus PC-9M formation for the closing ceremony. That Saturday, the 6th June, brought a number of Air Corps aircraft to Galway, as well as the 5 PC-9 formation there was a solo display by a Eurocopter EC-135 while the President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary McAleese was flown to and from the event in an Agusta-Westland AW-139.

The pictures on the left show the Air Corps Pilatus PC-9M formation, PC-9 solo display and Eurocopter EC-135 display over Galway Bay at Salthill. The AW-139 was too far away to photograph so is now shown here.