Solo Sailing and Circumavigation News
The Ultim Challenge: The Next Big Step in the History of Sailing Round the World
30th December 2023 Ultim Challenge
The Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest, which starts from Brest, France, on Sunday, 7th, January, will be the first-ever solo race around the world on giant Ultim trimarans, the biggest and fastest ocean-going sailboats in the world. There are many…
Ireland’s Cruising And Voyaging Continues To Develop The Rich Legacy And International Friendship Radiating From Cork
16th December 2023 W M Nixon
In a week’s time, Sailing on Saturday will resume normal service with a preview on December 23rd of the up-coming Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race on December 26th, both generally and from an Irish angle, for we…
Yoann Richomme Wins inaugural Retour à La Base Solo Transatlantic Race
9th December 2023 Solo Sailing
When he crossed the finish line off Lorient, Brittany at 16:03:48hrs UTC today (Saturday 9th December) to win the inaugural 3,500 miles Retour à La Base, this afternoon French skipper Yoann Richomme marked himself as a sailor worth watching on…
The winner of the Retour a La Base is forecasted to cross the Lorient finish line on Saturday afternoon. It is looking increasingly likely to be a maiden solo IMOCA race triumph for longtime race leader Yoann Richomme on the…
Thomas Ruyant Races to New 24 Hour Record in Retour à La Base Solo Race
4th December 2023 Solo Sailing
With more than 2200 nautical miles still to sail and at least two more low-pressure systems due before a timely finish into Lorient expected Saturday, there is still a long, long way to go on the Retour à La Base…
Britain's Sam Goodchild Leads Retour à La Base Solo IMOCA Race from Martinique to Lorient
4th December 2023 Offshore
The Retour à La Base solo IMOCA race from Martinique to Lorient, France, is heating up as the leaders complete their curve around the North Atlantic high-pressure system and start to head towards the east. They are seeking to find…
Pip Hare on Retour à La Base: “It is Looking Classic, Head North, Find Depression Put your Foot Down….”
29th November 2023 Solo Sailing
Pip Hare, who recently visited Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay, is one of those racers who is probably happiest when she is at sea, at one with her IMOCA Medallia. But the British racer now faces her biggest test yet…
Exhibition to Mark Commander Bill King's Epic Circumnavigation Opens in Galway City Museum
29th November 2023 Bill King
A new exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the global circumnavigation by yacht by the late Commander Bill King opens in Galway City Museum this week. A display of objects and memorabilia relating to his voyage, loaned by his family…
The Only Solo IMOCA Race of 2023: 'Le Retour à La Base' Race Starts From Martinique on Thursday
27th November 2023 Solo Sailing
Thursday 30th, November at midday local time (0800hrs UTC), more than 30 solo skippers on their IMOCA 60s will start the 3,500 nautical miles inaugural Rétour à La Base race from Martinique in the French Antilles across the Atlantic to…
Shannon Estuary & Limerick Have Combined Over Centuries As Ireland’s Most Innovative Sailing Area
18th November 2023 W M Nixon
The Cruising Group can often emerge as the backbone of any sailing club, particularly in the winter. Back in the day when the new Howth Yacht Club premises opened in March 1987, fresh concepts were needed to ensure that the…
Tom Dolan Sets the Record Straight on Last Week’s 'Sailing on Saturday' Article on his Round Ireland Challenge
11th November 2023 Tom Dolan
Tom Dolan halted his latest Round Ireland speed challenge on October 31st due to worsening weather forecasts off the South and Southwest coast. It was a disappointing decision for him and his team and a great many readers who had…
Tom Dolan's second attempt at a Round Ireland speed record has ended off County Kerry, at the end of his second day at sea (Tuesday) because of the imminent arrival of Storm Ciaran off the southwest coast. Tonight, Dolan is…
Tom Dolan Closes In On Munster Coast For Continuing Round Ireland Windward Challenge Past Kerry And West Cork
31st October 2023 Tom Dolan
Tuesday morning 0815 hrs - As he expected, Tom Dolan, with his Figaro 3 Smurfit-Kappa Kingspan, is finding the challenge of getting past the majestic southwestern seaboard of Kerry and West Cork the most demanding part of his current Round Ireland…
Tom Dolan Looking At Northwest Mayo 24 Hours From Dublin Bay In "Enhanced" Easterlies
30th October 2023 Tom Dolan
Monday 4pm - Wind conditions with strong easterlies, "enhanced" by dense air, have been so favourable and powerful for Tom Dolan's anti-clockwise Round Ireland challenge that he has been able to downgrade the significance of favourable tides. Having breezed through…
Tom Dolan Making Record Time on North West Coast in Round Ireland Speed Challenge
30th October 2023 Tom Dolan
Monday 0900am - After 17 hours at sea, Tom Dolan is making strong progress off the Donegal Coast on Bank Holiday Monday morning, having departed Dublin Bay just before 4 pm yesterday in a northabout bid to break the solo and double-handed…
Day One (start): Just coming up to 4pm on Sunday, 29th October 2023, Ireland's leading solo sailor, the French-based Tom Dolan, embarked on his latest adventure to round Ireland in under four days and break the 2020 doublehanded record according to the bid…
