Irish offshore sailor Pamela Lee will be the focus of a special Dún Laoghaire gathering next Tuesday (October 6) as she prepares for her historic solo challenge in November’s Route du Rhum.
As first reported by Afloat last month, Lee will become the first Irishwoman to compete in the famous solo transatlantic when she lines up off Saint-Malo on Sunday, November 1.
The Wicklow sailor will race her 12.2-metre Class40 #EMPOWHER (FRA178) across the Atlantic to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, competing in the race's 49-boat Class40 division.
National Maritime Museum Gathering
The event at the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire begins at 6.30pm and is being organised by Atlantic Shackleton, with Lee also an ambassador for its youth trust.
The evening is being billed as a gathering in support of Lee before her departure for the French start and will also provide an opportunity to update supporters on Atlantic Shackleton activities.
It comes as Lee enters the final countdown to the race. Afloat reported last week that she is among 118 solo skippers across six classes preparing for the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum.
Afloat Tracks Lee's Offshore Campaign
Afloat has followed Lee's offshore sailing campaign extensively, including her preparations and qualifying programme for the Route du Rhum.
Her November start will mark another significant milestone in a campaign that will put an Irish skipper into the largest division in this year's Route du Rhum.
O'Coineen's Round-the-World Experience
The invitation to Tuesday's event has been issued by Irish round-the-world sailor Enda O'Coineen, who has first-hand experience of the demands of major solo ocean racing.
O'Coineen became the first Irish skipper to compete in the Vendée Globe when he started the 2016-17 solo round-the-world race. His Vendée Globe ended following a dismasting south of New Zealand, but he subsequently returned to complete his solo circumnavigation, reaching Les Sables d'Olonne in April 2018.
O'Coineen said the Dún Laoghaire gathering would be an opportunity to support Lee before her transatlantic challenge and to update friends and supporters on Atlantic Shackleton activities.
The Pamela Lee event takes place at the National Maritime Museum, Dún Laoghaire, on Tuesday, October 6 at 6.30pm. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to [email protected].
