For Gavin Vaughan and his team, the fundraising voyage Round Ireland has now raised £12800 in aid of the Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer charity, NIPANC, which raises awareness of pancreatic cancer, provides support and helps fund research in Northern Ireland.
Gavin from Royal North Yacht Club on Belfast Lough and his team on the Jeanneau SO 349 Toucan spent 32 days and sailed 920 miles with only two days lost to bad weather in honour and in memory of his long-time friend Neale McCullough who died of Pancreatic Cancer last year. He and Neale had planned a Round Ireland voyage, but Neale passed away before they could do it. So, this circumnavigation was a real mission accomplished in what was a summer of unpredictable weather.
Picking up where the first half of Gavin's story finished in Afloat, Northern Ireland Sailor Embarks on Fundraising Circumnavigation of Ireland in Memory of Friend (afloat.ie). The morning Toucan left Fenit in Tralee Bay the weather changed; after a good week of fine and settled conditions it became very changeable with strong to gale force SW winds which Gavin looked on as a good direction. Every day for the next week they had heavy rain mixed with sunny intervals and the rain always seemed to arrive as they approached a port to stop for the night, anchoring or mooring in soaking rain with little chance to get dry before leaving the next morning.
Gavin Vaughan (right) presenting a cheque for £12400 on 14th August to Ivan McMinn MBE on Chairperson of NIPANC The amount raised is now £12,800. Photo: Jonathan Jones
After the overnight in Kilronan on Inishmore in the Aran Islands, they had a crew change at Rossaveel on the north coast of Galway Bay, before heading to Roundstone. They arrived there to find the annual regatta under way, as well as the All-Ireland currach rowing championships. Gavin and the crew were delighted "That was a great spectacle and as you can imagine the craic was mighty in the town".
On then to Inishbofin Island, north west of Clifden in County Galway and then to Blacksod Quay with both days wet, grey and overcast mostly obliterating Slyne Head and the beautiful Mayo coast.
Gavin reflects"If you don't know it Blacksod Quay it is literally the end of the road with a few houses and one pub. As we were anchoring (in the rain) a young local fisherman came alongside to welcome us and asked if we needed any provisions (explaining the nearest shop was 5 miles away). He took our order and as promised delivered them to us at 5.30am the next morning as he was going fishing, and we were leaving; proper Irish hospitality!".
Teelin, a Gaeltacht village in the south-west of County Donegal was the next stop, then Portnoo and Burtonport to visit friends. Then on to Downings in Sheephaven Bay. The winds were stronger in Donegal, and the 27-knot South Westerlies and a following sea surfed Toucan through Tory Sound. After Downings came the more familiar North Coast with Portrush, then Rathlin Island and Glenarm. The homecoming weather improved; the sun shone, and the winds softened for the rest of the trip. They arrived back in Bangor on Wednesday, 31st July, at 1430 to a great welcome from family, friends, the charity and their press people.
So 32 days and 920 miles with only two days lost to bad weather which Gavin had allowed for in planning the itinerary was what Gavin considered acceptable in what was a forgettable summer of weather.
Gavin talked about the voyage "It was an amazing experience and I will have many great memories. If asked would I do it again (and I have been many times over the past month), I would say only if it was a proper summer, and I would take twice as long". And Ivan McMinn MBE, Chairperson of NIPANC said: "Yet another incredible epic endurance event for NIPANC. Circumnavigating Ireland on a yacht, taking on 1,000 miles over the course of a month is no mean feat.
The money raised will be invested into research and supporting individuals and families facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The publicity generated around the challenge has also helped us raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms which is also core to our purpose. As a pancreatic cancer survivor, my heartfelt thanks to all involved. You have made a difference, and we are grateful."
This weekend's passage for Toucan will be much shorter – to Portpatrick on the Mull of Galloway for Royal Ulster's annual offshore race. He will be defending his YTC first place in 2023.
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