GREEN DRAGON yacht

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aukepalmhof
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GREEN DRAGON yacht

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu May 31, 2018 9:21 pm

In 2009 Ireland issued one stamp and a miniature sheet for the Volvo Ocean Race in which the Irish team with the yacht GREEN DRAGON took part.

By this issues the Ireland Post gives the following.
It’s is known as the ‘Everest of Sailing’ a unique test of sailing skills, physical endurance and appetite for adventure. That’s the Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier professional yachting race, a globe-spanning event that embodies for today spirit of the intrepid seafarers who crossed the oceans under sail more than a century ago.
In 2009, this epic challenge comes to Ireland for the first time, with a stopover in Galway between 23 May and 6 June (2009). The visit is just one stop on a global journey that covers nine months, 11 ports and over 37,000 nautical miles, and is expected to be seen by 1.6 billion people.
When the yachts reach Galway, they will be touching land in Europe for the first time since leaving Alicante in Spain last October (2008).
While there they are expected to attract a quarter of a million people, and they will take part in an in-port race that will give spectators a change to witness some spectacular sailing action close-up.
On leaving Galway the yachts continue on to Sweden before sailing across the Baltic Sea and the down the Gulf of Finland to St. Petersburg, Russia, where the race its exciting climax at the end of June.
The two stamps issued by Ireland mark this event, both of which are based on paintings by Vincent Killowry, GREEN DRAGON, and the Irish entry for the race features on both stamps. The 55c features a painting of the yacht and its team in action out at sea. The mini sheet features a 3 Euro stamp showing the GREEN DRAGON amongst other yachts competing in this spectacular event.

The GREEN DRAGON was built in 2007/08 by McConaghy Boats in Gosfort, NSW, Australia after a design made by Reichel Pugh Yacht design.
She was built for the Green Dragon Racing Team, Ireland and sponsored by China.
Displacement 14,000 kg, dim. 21.5 x 5.7 x 4.5m. (draught)
Sail area: mainsail 175m², storm jib 35m², jib 94m², spinnaker (masthead) 500m², spinnaker (fractional rig) 350 m², storm trysail 41m².
Accommodation for 12 persons.

She took part in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 under Skipper Ian Walker and finished as 5th.
After the race she was put up for sale for 2 million Euro, but there were no takers. She was laid up in a dry-dock in Galway, Ireland.
2011 She was sold to an owner in Austria, not renamed but homeport changed to Vienna.
2018 She is for charter as a race yacht, same name.
More info on the 2008/09 Volvo Race is given by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%8 ... rticipants

Source: Internet and Irish Post.
Ireland 2009 55c sg?, scott? and MS sgMS?, scott?
Attachments
green dragon.jpg
2009 green drago MS.jpg
Image (30).jpg

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