Sailing Amateur is Building His Own Boat for Solo Atlantic Crossing

13th January 2021

MacDara Conroy

Jim Schofield with the plywood-and-epoxy hull of his ClassGlobe 5.80 Credit: RTÉ News

An amateur sailor is putting his lockdown downtime to good used by building a boat he plans to sail solo across the Atlantic, as RTÉ News reports.

Inspired by a worldwide ‘build at home’ challenge, 57-year-old Jim Schofield started work last year assembling his ClassGlobe 5.80 wooden yacht in the hopes of crossing an item off his bucket list.

That will be racing a number of other home builders along a 3,600-mile transatlantic route later this year, restrictions allowing.

“In many ways, it's the perfect pandemic project,” said the Blessington, Co Wicklow-based Schofield. “I’m locked in the shed, building a boat by myself. And when the time comes, I will get on the boat and sail away by myself.”

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

Published in News Update

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ClassGlobe 580

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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