It has been a successful season of mini racing for County Meath Solo sailor Tom Dolan, with two victories out of two solo races in the Atlantic mini–circuit. This combined with a sixth and fifth place finish in the two double–handed races has placed Dolan in third place on the general rankings and in a promising position to finish on the podium of the ‘Championnat France de course au large en solitaire’, the French solo sailing championship, a first for any Irishman if it can be achieved.
After a mediocre season in 2015 which culminated in the Mini transat, Dolan decided to stick it out and spent the winter preparing from scratch a new pogo 3 boat. The bet payed off and now the 'most Breton of the Irish', as he has become to be known by the local press, has set his sights on a podium on the big race of the season, Les Sables-Les Azores-Les sables. 2600 Miles from Vendee to the Azores and back.
The first of his victories, in the 500 mile “Mini en Mai” came as quite a surprise, as it was his first solo race on board the IRL 910. Dolan led from the onset and even though having a nine mile lead reduced to 0.3M he managed to hold out and cross the line just 10 minutes before his nearest rival, Pierre Chedville on board the 887 “blue orange games”.
The second race, the 220 “MAP trophy” was to prove a little more difficult to dominate, as many of the stars of the sport were present. Dolan managed to latch onto the leading group of 5 boats from the onset and the lead changed regularly until he managed to get ahead in the final hours, once again nipping ahead of Chedville onboard the 887.
Solo sailing has for many years been dominated by the French, and Dolan attributes his recent success to his integration into the French sailing world. “If you can’t beat them join them” is his spirit and it has taken him five years working and living in Brittany to get to where he is. He hopes that these victories will be a boost in his search for sponsorship and a place in the 2017 Mini Transat.
