Tom Dolan, Solo Sailor
Day Two: Meath maestro Tom Dolan's Figaro 3 Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan came past the Blasket Islands northward bound at noon today (Thursday) on his clockwise Round Ireland Solo Record Challenge, making excellent progressin a brisk easterly wind that should carry him…
Noted marine climate expert and weather router, Chris Tibbs has commented that the Round Ireland Ireland Record poses one of the most intriguing yet manageable sailing challenges on earth. And it's particularly so when you're doing it in a mono-hull…
Day One (start): Just before dawn on Wednesday, May 3rd 2023, Ireland's leading solo sailor, the French-based Tom Dolan, embarked on his latest adventure to round Ireland in under four days and break the 2020 doublehanded record according to the bid lodged…
Wednesday is 'Green For Go' as Tom Dolan Embarks on Round Ireland Speed Record
2nd May 2023 Tom Dolan
Tom Dolan has advised of a 'Code Green' for his Round Ireland Speed Sailing Record attempt from tomorrow morning, meaning a start off Dun Laoghaire within 24 hours. Based on the latest weather forecast grids, the plan is to start…
Tom Dolan is on Standby for “Faux Solo” 700-mile Round Ireland Speed Sailing Record Bid
24th April 2023 Tom Dolan
While his boat Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan has now been berthed at Greystones Harbour, south of Dublin, since Wednesday, Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan will start his 'stand by' period when he is reunited with the Figaro Beneteau 3 this weekend. Dolan…
Irish sailor Tom Dolan bid farewell to his Figaro Beneteau 3 Smurfit Kappa – Kingspan today in Concarneau, France, as the boat left for the delivery to Dun Laoghaire where he will go on standby to wait for an optimum…
The best news for Ireland thus far in this developing sailing season of 2023 is that, at last weekend’s 400-boat four-day Spi Ouest Easter Regatta at La Trinite in Southern Brittany, Meath’s own Tom Dolan won the hyper-keen Figaro 3…
Ireland’s Tom Dolan, sailing with a crew comprising England’s Alan Roberts and French ace Gildas Mahe, took overall victory today in the hotly contested Figaro Beneteau 3 class in France’s huge annual Easter showcase regatta Spi Ouest France. Racing over four…
Irish sailor Tom Dolan and his French co-skipper Achille Nebout should have been content with finishing in ninth place when they crossed the line off La Trinite sur Mer, Brittany yesterday, concluding the 315 nautical miles Laura Vergne Trophy, but…
Tom Dolan Sailing with French Co-skipper Achille Nebout for Trophee Laura Vergne
3rd April 2023 Tom Dolan
Two weeks after his encouraging sixth in the 2023’s season’s first race, the Solo Maître CoQ, Irish sailor Tom Dolan transitions to double-handed mode as he pairs up with French ace Achille Nebout for the new 316 miles Trophee Laura…
Figaro Sailor Tom Dolan in Solo Round Ireland Speed Sailing Record Bid
24th March 2023 Round Ireland Speed Record
Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan plans to return to his native Ireland from France in May when he will seek to break the singlehanded record for sailing 698 nautical miles around Ireland. The skipper of Smurfit Kappa –Kingspan is aiming…
Ireland’s leading solo offshore racer Tom Dolan laid to rest the ghosts of three past Solo Maître CoQ events when he finished seventh overall from a 30-boat fleet Saturday. After his 11th in Wednesday’s short inshore race the skipper of Smurfit…
As expected the weather conditions and more significantly the sea state with a swell greater than 5 meters off Les Sables d'Olonne, required Race Management of the 20th Solo Maître CoQ to give up the idea of a short coastal…
Tom Dolan Staying 'Mentally Focused' as Gales Cancel First Solo Races of 2023
13th March 2023 Tom Dolan
After Monday's severe gales which buffeted the French Vendee coast to keep Ireland's Tom Dolan and the 29 other solo skippers tied to the dock in Les Sables d'Olonne unable to race, a proposed new programme for the Solo Maître…
Kinsale is Part of 2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Three Stage, 1850 Miles Course
8th March 2023 Kinsale
The course for 2023's 54th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro will be contested over three stages over the period August 27 to September 13 and will call to Kinsale in late August. As Afloat reported earlier, the route was…
Solo Sailor Tom Dolan Aiming for Kinsale Leg Victory as 2023 Figaro Race Detail is Published
7th March 2023 Tom Dolan
A comprehensive sail testing programme completed in January and longer periods of intensive pre-season training races should mean Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan is well equipped to stake his claim to regular podium places over the course of the Figaro…
