Dia Daoibh a chailíní agus a bhucahaillí! Is mise Padraig agus táim ag taisteal le foireann Green Dragon. Tar liom ar an turas seo agus mé ag dul ó Chorcaigh go Alicante - ó Cape Town go Cochin.

Hello girls and boys! My name is Pádraig and I am making my journey around the globe with the Green Dragon team. Come with me on this awesome journey as I see many wonderful sights and meet some very interesting people. This is my story - the story of Pádraig and the Green Dragon. Come with me and see how the saga unfolds, as this adventurous team of sailors travel the oceans of the world on board the magnificent yacht that is Green Dragon.

It all began ..... well it all began in China where the yacht was built. I wasn't part of the team then - I was still in training in my home port of Cobh in Co. Cork. Cobh is a great place and the sailing in Cork Harbour is mighty fine. My good friend Eddie English (@ sailcork.com) gave me a few pointers, you know, the usual things that a sailor might need to know ....port is left and starboard is right ... a sheet is a rope (and not to dress the bed!).... sails have strange names like mizen, mainsail and genoa.... I learned how to come about and how to pack a spinnaker and I even managed to make a cup of tea while the boat was almost horizontal!! And not a bit of seasickness - what a bear!

I first went on board Green Dragon at the Naval Base in Haulbowline. The Naval Service made the shore support team so welcome and made it possible for all the important pre-racing preparations to be done from the Base. Johnny Smullen welcomed me on board with my good friend Dee Ryan who is teacher from Walterstown Primary School in Cobh. I belong to her and to all the boys and girls in Walterstown School. They decided that a bear like me - full of energy and with an adventurous spirit should go on a special trip and report back with all the news. I'm a bit of a foreign news correspondent, you could say. Johnny's wife Theresa helps me to keep my diary up to date and reminds me to e-mail my friends at Walterstown whenever I have a free moment. Mind you, there isn't much free time when there's so much sailing to do. I'm off soon to Alicante where the race begins. Can't wait! Must brush up on my Spanish vocab ....Hóla! Qué tal? Me llamo Pádraig! Not bad eh? Talk soon. Hasta la vista! agus SLÁN.