Maurice O'Connell
Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell is a partner in North Sails Ireland. He is also a professional sailor, sailing & life/business coach and sailing media analyst/commentator.
In 2018 he again won his class in the Round Ireland Race and in 2019 finished 2nd in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race - 10 years after he won it!
Also in 2019, he was providing expert commentary and analysis in studio for the SSL Star Europeans in Garda, Italy and SSL finals in Nassau.
Full bio here.
North Sails Ireland Update - Seattle, Cowes, Palma, America's Cup, Aerotech and Especially - The Last Of The Winter Discounts
25th October 2024 North Sails Ireland
I hope everyone is looking forward to their winter sailing! After the hecticness of the "treble" in Dun Laoghaire in late August / early September, I spent a week in Seattle working with North U at a J80 performance race…
North Sails One Design Savings - Come Here and Get Them - Then Go Out There and Get 'Em!
1st October 2024 North Sails Ireland
Hi everyone, Some more good news from your team here at North Sails Ireland.... Our One Design sails have won so many World, Continental, National and Regional Championships this year already - it has been absolutely epic. It's also been…
The Maples Group European IRC Championships last weekend rounded out a MASSIVE three weekends of racing on Dublin Bay. Congratulations to the team in the Royal Irish YC for running the UNIO ICRAs, the Northern Trust Ireland J-Cup and the…
What a TREMENDOUS event that just was! Three days of racing in a combination of windward/leeward and round-the-can courses makes for happy sailors. The triangles elicited some debate with the supertight first reaches necessitating a call between a running kite…
North Sails Price Period Discounts - There is NO Better Time to Buy
27th August 2024 North Sails Ireland
Hello Sailors, Here at North Sails Ireland, we've had a fantastic year so far. Our clients have raced all over the country and have travelled to majestic spots all over the world. Well done everybody - we love seeing you…
Volvo Cork Week 2024 has just been and gone in a FLASH. Huge congratulations and thanks to the fantastic team in Royal Cork YC for another wonderful event. For us here at North Sails Ireland, it's been a stellar event!…
Hi everyone, North Sails Ireland is just coming up for air from a tremendous WAVE Regatta in Howth. It was a hugely successful event for us, and we are delighted and grateful to you all. Check out Annraoi Blaney's beautiful…
Hello everyone, Lovely weather, wasn't it for the past few days? You might be surprised to hear that over 50% of our business is in cruising sails. Here are some lovely pictures of our wonderful cruising clients' sails in action!…
Hello everyone, I am just back from coaching at the Etchells Worlds in Fremantle, Australia, so I am just coming up for air and wanted to share some news about North Sails Ireland. It's always an exciting time for us…
Introducing North Sails RENEW - a Sustainable Sailcloth for Cruising
24th January 2024 North Sails Ireland
A belated Happy New Year, everyone. We hope you are all safe and sound from Isha and survived recent storms, Isha and Jocelyn! I am bringing you some wonderful news from our North Sails product development teams. At the Dusseldorf…
North Sails BLACK FRIDAY - 10% Off On One Design Sails - This Week Only
21st November 2023 North Sails Ireland
FAST sails simplify tactics and make everything easier! Flying Fifteen sailors Niall and Nicky Meagher powering upwind with their North Sails FR-3 and NXG-3 genoa Photo: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails North Sails has powered thousands of one-design victories; this…
One Design racing can be the toughest arena of them all - every tiny mistake is punished, and boatspeed is KING. FAST sails help simplify tactics and make everything easier! North Sails has powered thousands of one-design victories, and this…
Victory was hard fought for Barry Cunningham and his team at the J109 National Championship on Dublin Bay last weekend. The team felt they underperformed in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta so it was fantastic for this one to go their…
North Sails Powers Ireland's "Headcase" to Victory in the J24 Europeans on Lake Balaton
28th August 2023 North Sails Ireland
Huge congratulations to Cillian Dickson, Ryan Glynn, Marcus Ryan, Louis Mulloy and Sam O'Byrne for winning the J24 Europeans on "Headcase" over the weekend. Tremendous stuff, guys! Here's what trimmer Sam O'Byrne had to say after the event:- "We are…
Winter Discounts Now Live as North Sails Ireland Hails Successful 2023 Season
24th August 2023 North Sails Ireland
It’s been another fantastic season so far for North Sails and our wonderful clients. On the inshore racing side, we’ve had podium successes this summer across almost all the classes at the Sovereign’s Cup in Kinsale, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire…
I thought I'd compose this little piece in light of the amazing pics, blogs and videos of the initial few hours of the 50th Fastnet Race last week. It looked EPIC! I am not sure we have permission here to…
North Sails Successes Across the Board at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
11th July 2023 North Sails Ireland
WOW! What an event! Fair play to Regatta Director Paddy Boyd and the amazing VDLR team for putting on an amazing show. It was the breeziest event I remember in Ireland for a long time. There were many, many tired…
North Sails Ireland Records Stunning Successes Across The Classes at Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale
27th June 2023 North Sails Ireland
Hi everyone, I am just coming up for air after a fantastic Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale Yacht Club. KYC always puts on a fabulous show, and certainly, on the first two days, the weather didn't disappoint! Well done to Regatta…
Congratulations to all the class winners at the recently concluded Axiom Spring Series in Kinsale. Kinsale YC ran a really lovely series of races with some difficult conditions and some magnificent sailing to finish off the regatta this past weekend.…
North Sails - From On Screen Winter 3D Design Renderings to Race Wins and Happy Outings
29th April 2023 North Sails Ireland
I always find it almost magical (I never exaggerate!) that what was a 3D spinning rendered live model on our screens in darkest November 2022 becomes a fully-fledged physical aero-foil generating upwind lift and downwind power in April 2023! So,…
