The Volvo Ocean Race: Galway Bay and the Start of the Cape Town Leg
TEAM ERICSSON LEADS DELTA LLOYD as they race toward open waters.
In the rugged waters of Galway Bay, the air buzzes with salt and anticipation. Crowds line the harbor, waving flags and cameras, eager to cheer their favorite crews as the yachts prepare for the grueling leg to Cape Town. From the quayside, families, sailing enthusiasts, and locals watch the meticulous final checks, their excitement mirrored in the sailors’ focused movements. Adding to the occasion, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, delivers an address, her words honoring the endurance, skill, and teamwork that define this iconic round-the-world race. Being on the water to capture these moments offered a rare, immersive perspective of both spectacle and subtle human drama.
THE CROWD GROWS as tourists and fans fill every space hoping to see their favorite teams.
THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS - Mary McAleese addresses the crowd gathered in Galway Harbor.
SAILORS & FANS gather around Galway Harbor in anticipation of a grand sendoff.
I photographed the fleet preparing to depart, focusing on the quiet intensity before the start. Close-ups of sailors adjusting sails and checking lines sit alongside wide vistas of racing yachts gliding across the bay, conveying both precision and chaos. The interplay of wind, water, light, and shadow created dynamic, intimate images that reveal the choreography required to launch a fleet into open waters.
TEAM ERICSSON WAVES TO THEIR FANS - A favorite to win, Team Ericsson’s crew, representing Sweden, gets ready to push off to the starting line.
STUART BANNATYNE gets ready to board the ship for the next leg of the race.
Skipper, FERNANDO ECHÁVARRI of Team Telefonica Blue, speaks to the press before race time.
Navigator, AKSEL MAGDAHL takes in the energy from the crowd as the beginning of the next leg approaches.
Crewman, ANDERS DAHLSJÖ smiles for the camera as he makes final preparations to disembark.
The start toward Cape Town is a moment where strategy meets courage, and preparation meets unpredictability. My images highlight this intersection: sailors leaning into the wind, sails taut against spray; subtle hand signals and shouted commands; the calm bay juxtaposed with the boundless Atlantic beyond. Galway Bay’s distinctive light and coastal backdrop—morning mist on cliffs, clouds and sunlight dancing on water—offered cinematic opportunities, demanding both technical precision and an understanding of the race’s rhythm.
THE STARTING LINE pushes off for a race around Galway Bay followed by the open-sea race to Cape Town.
Beyond action, the race reveals camaraderie and collaboration. Shots of crews in focus, laughter, or quiet reflection capture the human side of a sport often defined by speed. These moments, alongside yachts slicing through the Atlantic, create a narrative of skill, endurance, and shared endeavor.
GREEN DRAGON, sailing for Ireland and China, leads Telefonica as it rounds the turn.
As the fleet departed, the visual story extended beyond a single location. The photographs study contrasts—the delicate, changing coastal light versus the raw forces of the open ocean; the ritualized routines aboard the boats versus the sudden demands of wind and tide. Through these images, the Volvo Ocean Race emerges not only as a sporting challenge but as a stage for human resilience and aesthetic exploration.
GREEN DRAGON cuts through choppy seas
FAIRWELL - The teams will move to open waters, where the race continues to Cape Town
This series from Galway Bay and the start of the Cape Town leg emphasizes both the monumental and intimate aspects of the race, documenting moments of intensity, collaboration, and beauty that define one of the world’s most demanding sailing competitions.