Disappointment is always hard to take, but Peter Lawless is determined, even though he has, this time, failed in his ambition to become the first Irishman to sail around the world non-stop.
The Kerry solo sailor left Kilrush Marina in Clare with high hopes in August, estimating that he would be, he told me, about eight months at sea alone aboard his yacht, Waxwing, a Rival 41, which he had "upgraded for the challenge".
"She is perfect for this circumnavigation," he said but told me that the two things he feared most were mast or rudder trouble.
West of Portugal, one of those happened.
Waxwing departs Kilrush Marina on the Shannon Estuary in August
He had a problem when something hit the rudder, and the result of that was the end of his voyage.
He has decided not to continue his voyage.
"Very disappointed but determined," he told me from Teneriffe, where he was making repairs. But there was a lot to be considered, particularly with the timing of the voyage and the weather. This weekend he decided that the voyage couldn't continue.
It was not an easy decision, but he says he made it for safety reasons. He will be returning home, but next year is to be considered, as you can hear on this week's Podcast.
• Lawless has left for Tenerife and is now en route to Portugal. He expects to arrive there next week.
