The Green Team is the seventh entry into the Volvo Ocean Race, and Ireland's first since the ill-fated NCB Ireland in 1989. Double Olympic medallist Ian Walker will take his place as skipper, while the custom-built Volvo Open 70 has been completed and is currently making its way from China.

Ireland's entry to the Volvo Ocean Race, the country's first entry since NCB Ireland 19 years ago, is known as the Green Team. Like the other aspects of the Irish bid, it has been lead by Galway businessmen John Killeen, Enda O'Coineen and Eamon Conneely, all of whom sit on the board of the syndicate funding the team.

Galway Chamber CEO, Michael Coyle

"The Volvo Ocean Race provides another opportunity for Galway to bring its unique appeal to the world stage and to a world audience. We applaud the success of the organisers in bringing the event to Galway in May 2009.

Harbour Master, Captain Brian Sheridan.

"The Volvo Ocean Race will put Galway Harbour firmly on the chart in many aspects and will specifically highlight Galway Bay as being the most important natural amenity that the citizens have at their disposal. I have described the bay as 'Galway's Blue Football Pitch', where kids can come to play and enjoy the sea by swimming, sailing, wind surfing, fishing or just cruising.

John Concannon Fáilte Ireland

"The Volvo Ocean Race is quite simply, the 'Everest of Sailing'. During the nine months of the race, the teams will sail 39,000 nautical miles of the globe's most treacherous seas. Their arrival in Galway will be at the end of a trans-Atlantic 'sprint' from Boston, as they attempt to beat the world 24-hour speed record with the help of the Gulf Stream.

John Killeen, Lets Do It Galway, Chairman

This for us is the culminating of 18 months of detailed planning work. Nobody is more delighted that 'Lets Do It Galway' to finally be in a position to bring this plan to the public forum.

This is the second Spanish start for the race, with the 2005/2006 race having begun in Vigo, Spain. Alicante was chosen due to the "energy and organisational skills" displayed by its authorities, according to former race CEO, Glenn Bourke.

Yacht racing enthusiasts everywhere will have an opportunity to see the Volvo Ocean Race as it happens thanks to a dedicated free on-line TV channel.

The upcoming Volvo Ocean Race became a visible presence in Galway city, with the opening of its office in the Eyre Square Centre in January of this year.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2009 will make history by being the first race to stop in a Russian port, and will go one better by finishing up in historic St Petersburg.