Six weeks of outstanding solo sailing brought the Kerry skipper within striking distance of the Golden Globe Race lead before another equipment failure ended his circumnavigation ambitions. Afloat looks back on his performance and the reaction from Irish sailing supporters.
There is a particular cruelty in the timing of Pat Lawless's retirement from the 2026 Golden Globe Race. Just as the 70-year-old Kerry sailor was turning an impressive second-place performance into a genuine challenge for victory, a failure of the Solent stay aboard Silvermines Hydro brought his campaign to an abrupt end.
For six weeks, Lawless had been among the leading performers in the solo, non-stop circumnavigation, steadily establishing himself as the closest challenger to French leader Damien Guillou aboard Solarem.
The scale of his achievement is apparent from Afloat's continuing coverage since the fleet departed Les Sables d'Olonne on 6 September.
By early October, Lawless and Guillou had broken clear of the chasing fleet, with third-placed Ertan Beskardes more than 1,000 nautical miles behind the leader.
The two front-runners had effectively created a separate race of their own across the Atlantic.
From Second Place to a Challenge for Victory
Guillou had enjoyed the advantage of favourable weather systems earlier in the race, at one stage stretching his lead over Lawless to 249 nautical miles.
But the Irish sailor was far from beaten.
As the leading yachts moved south towards the Cape of Good Hope, Lawless began to make substantial gains, frequently recording better speeds and daily runs than his French rival.
By 10 October, the gap had narrowed to 142 miles.
Two days later, Lawless was within 97 miles of the leader, and on 16 October, Afloat reported that he had closed to just 47 miles.
On Saturday, 17 October, Lawless was again setting the pace, recording 128 miles made good over 24 hours compared with Guillou's 124.
The Frenchman's advantage stood at 62 miles.
It was against this background that the news of Lawless's retirement arrived only hours later.
Atlantic Pursuit – Pat Lawless steadily reduced Damien Guillou's lead during the South Atlantic stages of the Golden Globe Race, closing from 249 to just 47 nautical miles in nine days before his retirement. Photo: GGR
Unfinished Business Ends Once Again
The disappointment is compounded by the circumstances of Lawless's previous Golden Globe Race campaign.
In November 2022, he was also sailing competitively near the front of the fleet when a failure of his Aries windvane self-steering system forced his retirement.
He eventually reached Cape Town, his ambition of completing a solo, non-stop circumnavigation unfulfilled.
When announcing his return for the 2026 race, Lawless spoke of having unfinished business.
He had prepared Silvermines Hydro for another attempt, determined that the equipment problems which ended his first campaign would not prevent him from completing the voyage this time.
Yet after 5,644 nautical miles, another equipment failure has brought the second attempt to an end.
The irony is difficult to escape. Twice Lawless has demonstrated the sailing ability to compete with the leading Golden Globe skippers. Twice his challenge has ended through equipment failure rather than an inability to maintain the pace.
Second Setback – Pat Lawless's 2022 Golden Globe Race ended following a failure of his Aries windvane self-steering system. Four years later, a broken Solent stay has brought another promising circumnavigation attempt to a premature conclusion. Photo: GGR
Irish Sailing Community Rallies Behind Lawless
The disappointment at Lawless's retirement has been reflected in an outpouring of support from Afloat readers on social media, with sailors and supporters praising his performance and wishing him a safe passage to port.
Many had been following his progress through the race tracker as he steadily reduced Damien Guillou's advantage.
“Devastating news, what a shame, so proud of him, he sure kept us checking the tracker, what a sailor, fantastic race!” wrote Jantien Vandenberg.
Peter Webster reflected the wider appreciation of Lawless's achievement, writing that his progress as a solo sailor deserved respect and wishing him safe passage wherever he was bound.
From Kerry and Limerick, Catherine Fielding wrote: “So sorry for Pat as he has put a lot of effort into this race. We in Limerick and Kerry are so proud of you, well done and safe home to Dingle.”
Others pointed to the importance of his decision to put safety ahead of continuing the competition.
“So disappointed for him he was keeping the pressure on the leader,” wrote Majella Bushe, adding: “But as we all know Safety first for Boat and Crew.”
Beyond the racing, readers also highlighted Lawless's fundraising efforts for Parkinson's Ireland.
Michael P Carney said Lawless had brought greater attention to the challenges faced by people living with Parkinson's disease and had helped raise funds for the cause.
In a message encouraging continued support for the fundraising campaign, fellow sailor SY Saga wrote: “Pat, you have not failed. You have inspired us. And we are still sailing alongside you!”
The comments underline that, although Lawless's second Golden Globe Race attempt has ended prematurely, his efforts have made an impression well beyond the race standings.
A Performance That Deserves Recognition
There is no certainty that Lawless would have overtaken Guillou, much less won the race. More than 21,000 nautical miles remained, including the formidable Southern Ocean and the eventual return through the Atlantic.
But his performance had established that he was a genuine contender.
At 70, the oldest competitor in the 2026 fleet had maintained a sustained challenge against an accomplished international field, frequently recording some of the fastest speeds and best daily runs.
He had crossed the Equator, navigated the difficult wind patterns of the tropical Atlantic and reached the Roaring Forties within striking distance of the lead.
For the Irish sailing community, which had followed his progress through successive tracker updates and race reports, his retirement represents the loss of one of the most compelling Irish offshore sailing campaigns of recent years.
The immediate concern is now Lawless's safety and the passage of Silvermines Hydro towards a suitable port.
But when the story of the 2026 Golden Globe Race is eventually written, the performance of the Kerry sailor who pursued the leader across more than 5,600 miles of ocean before being stopped by a broken stay will deserve its place.
His race ended prematurely. His performance should not be judged by the retirement alone.
Final Chance – Pat Lawless departs Les Sables d’Olonne on 6 September 2026 for what he described as his last Golden Globe Race attempt. Six weeks later, the 70-year-old Kerry sailor's hopes of completing a solo, non-stop circumnavigation ended with another equipment failure, despite lying second and challenging for the lead. Photo: Don McIntyre/GGR2026
