It’s the end of an era. Theo Phelan of Wicklow, who has been intimately involved with the organsation of the biennial Round Ireland Race since 2008, has stood down from his demanding and time-consuming position after ten years in roles of increasing responsibility with the race organisation writes W M Nixon.
During those years as he progressed towards being Race Organiser for 2012, 2014 and 2016, he guided the classic event as it survived decline in the grim post-recession years, and brought it to new strength as the records-breaking Volvo Round Ireland Race of 2016. Always mindful of the need to make the following of the race a more accessible experience, he introduced Race Trackers with such determination that it is believed the Round Ireland was the first mainstream race to make them mandatory.
He also strengthened the links with the Royal Ocean Racing Club to consolidate the Round Ireland’s position in the international calendar, and he developed Wicklow Sailing Club’s co-ordination with the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire in order to provide the largest boats with a suitable pre-race base.
Speaking to Afloat.ie today, Wicklow SC Honorary Secretary Peter Shearer – himself a longtime member of the Round Ireland Organising Committee – praised Theo Phelan’s dedicated contribution: “It was mainly thanks to Theo Phelan’s determination and dedication that we saw our core event become the hyper-successful Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016. It was a remarkable story of success”.