SAILING:THREE guns fired from a starting-cannon marked the official return of Green Dragon to Irish waters following the end of the Volvo Ocean Race two weeks ago. Skipper Ian Walker together with Justin Slattery, James Carroll and a delivery crew brought the 70-footer to her East Pier mooring under escort from a flotilla of well-wishers, reports David Branigan.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour’s newly-refurbished band-stand was the setting for a star of the successful Galway stop-over when TV celebrity Hector Ó hEochagáin led a crowd in warm applause for the team. Green Dragon will depart Dublin Bay today for Galway though no formal ceremonies are planned.

The boat, together with an extensive inventory of tools, equipment, plus two large RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), is for sale for €2.5 million as a ready to sail package for a prospective race team.

The results of an economic and sponsorship study of the team and stop-over will be known in early autumn.