Sailing into Wellness at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club: Talk By Tom Dolan, James Lyons & Colin Healy

4th January 2019

Colin Healy (left) and James Lyons, will speak about how their sailing programme helps people in their recovery from poor mental health and addiction.

On Thursday 10th of January County Meath solo sailor Tom Dolan will be giving a short presentation on his 2019 racing season in support of the social enterprise 'Sailing into Wellness'

Sailing into Wellness is an award winning not for profit social enterprise, who exist to help people in their recovery from poor mental health and addiction in Ireland. Its co-founders, Colin Healy and James Lyons, will speak before Tom about how their sailing programme helps people in their recovery from poor mental health and addiction.

By focusing on a natural and healthy approach to improving mental health and well-being they have developed a sailing program that is both education and therapeutic. Now in their third year of operation SIW work with community organisations nationwide and run sailing activities on the East and South coast. It is their vision for Sailing Into Wellness to be an integral part of the fabric for recovery in Ireland.

Colin Healy is an expert by experience. During his personal battle with addiction and depression, he found sailing to have a substantial therapeutic value. James Lyons is one of Ireland’s most experienced sail training professionals, he has been safely teaching and guiding new sailors along Ireland’s Atlantic coast for 20 years

Tom Dolan’s intense 2018 season, competing over an 8,000 mile racing circuit, culminated in the Solitaire du Figaro. This racing competition is widely considered as the highest level there is in singlehanded offshore sailing. Despite being his first Figaro season, Tom was on the podium in December at the Paris International Boat Show for his third place award in the Rookie section. Tom is here to tell us how it went, warts and all, and illustrating it with his revealing videos. 2018 had it all: Strong winds, intense moments, big waves and big upsets He will also reveal his plan for the Solitaire du Figaro 2019 with his new boat, the revolutionary Beneteau Figaro 3, and his longer term dreams. These include racing round the world and representing Ireland in the 2024 Olympics.

Tom’s success as a competitive solo sailor hasn’t blinded him to his Glenans training based on a love of the sea and the power of teamwork on a sailing boat to bring about the best in everybody. Hence his desire to support the work of Sailing into Wellness.

The show starts at 2000 at Ringsend Yacht & Boat Club. €5 entry in support of Sailing Into Wellness. All are welcome

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Tom Dolan, Solo Offshore Sailor

Even when County Meath solo sailor Tom Dolan had been down the numbers in the early stages of the four-stage 2,000 mile 2020 Figaro Race, Dolan and his boat were soon eating their way up through the fleet in any situation which demanded difficult tactical decisions.

His fifth overall at the finish – the highest-placed non-French sailor and winner of the Vivi Cup – had him right among the international elite in one of 2020's few major events.

The 33-year-old who has lived in Concarneau, Brittany since 2009 but grew up on a farm in rural County Meath came into the gruelling four-stage race aiming to get into the top half of the fleet and to underline his potential to Irish sailing administrators considering the selection process for the 2024 Olympic Mixed Double Offshore category which comes in for the Paris games.