To celebrate the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race to Galway we are planning to do a bit of boat racing of our own. As a fundraising event for our proposed new Fruit Forestry Project in Malawi we are going to have a good old fashioned banana boat race down a section of Galway canal.
The Zikomo Banana Boat Race is sure to be lots of fun for everyone and it will give you a chance to win some fantastic prizes.
To get involved here’s what you have to do:
• Show up on Sunday 24th of may at 14:30 at Friars River Bridge, Newtownsmith, Galway. (Beside new shop Born in Galway).
• You can get a banana off one of the Zikomo team at the start line OR register prior to the event (minimum donation €5).
• You can then modify your new boat any way you like (e.g. make a raft out of a few bananas, give its skin a new coloured design, put a flag on it). The idea is to be creative but you can always just write your name on it, wish it luck and send it on its way.
• At the start of the race (15:00) you will drop your new racing vessel off the upstream side of the bridge into the small waterfall.
• You can then follow the race by walking alongside the racing fleet down the canal path while cheering on your own boat.
• At the finish line (Nora Barnacle Bride) all the bananas will be fished out of the water with nets and returned to each entrant. You can still enjoy eating your banana as long as the skin hasn’t been broken.
• Prizes will be awarded to the first three banana boats to cross the finish line and also to the skipper with the most creatively-designed boat.
Prizes include:
A children's art course from The Paint Box
Official Volvo Ocean Race prizes from Judy Greene
Official Green Dragon merchandise
Pat O'Connor photographs
Zikomo tee-shirts and cards
If you require any more information about the event please contact Gwilym at amdin@zikomo.org or 0868336499 or see us on facebook.
Many thanks to Galway Volvo Ocean Race, The Galway Advertiser, Judy Greene, The Paint Box, MyKidsTime.ie, and the Galway Independent for all their kind support of this event.
