Afloat.ie regrets to record the death of Brian Buchanan, for many years a leading figure in the offshore racing scene in Northern Ireland and internationally. Although he became best-known as the owner of "The Special One", the remarkable Frers 49 Hesperia III (later the Mayo-based Killary Flyer) in which Dickie Gomes was Sailing Master during their peak period of success in the 1980s, he had many years of ownership involving several other boats.
In 1979 he had teamed up with fellow northern sailor Barry Bramwell to campaign the Peterson-designed Rogers 39 Inishanier to a place in that year's Irish Admirals Cup Team. The Irish squad went into the storm-struck 1979 Fastnet Race leading the series overall, but of the three boats sailing for Ireland, only Inishanier made it to the finish at Plymouth.
Our thoughts are with Brian Buchanan's family and friends and very many shipmates at his passing, which is indeed the end of a remarkable era.
WMN
