Solo Sailing and Circumavigation News
A glutton for punishment? After a tough, stamina-sapping 408 nautical miles second leg of the Sardinha Cup in strong, gusty winds, freezing temperatures which even brought hailstones, Ireland’s Smurfit Kappa pair Tom Dolan and Damian Foxall cannot wait to go…
22 April 2019, marks an astounding 50 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and his yacht, Suhaili, returned to Falmouth after an epic 312 days at sea, securing him in global history as the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the…
Ireland’s Dolan and Foxall Are Relishing The Challenge of The First Big Blast for the Figaro Beneteau 3
2nd April 2019 Tom Dolan
If the first stage of the Sardinha Cup, the first offshore races for the Figaro Beneteau 3, proved to be something of a gentle baptism, the 405 nautical miles second stage which starts this Tuesday afternoon at 1600hrs local time,…
Irish offshore sailors Tom Dolan and Damian Foxall finished 13th in the new foil-assisted Figaro Bénéteau 3 in the first leg of the Sardinha Cup, France this morning. A second Irish team, Atlantic Youth Trust, skippered by Joan Mulloy and Mike Golding were 32nd…
Gregor McGuckin Talks Golden Globe Drama At Howth Yacht Club This Thursday
23rd March 2019 Golden Globe Race
#HYC - Gregor McGuckin will be bringing his lecture on his experiences in the golden jubilee Golden Globe race to Howth Yacht Club this coming Thursday 28 March. Last month McGuckin talked Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club members through the…
The last competitor still at sea of the eighteen yachts which started the Golden Globe Race last July is not expected to finish back in France until the middle of May. Finnish sailor Tapio Lehtinen is in fifth place in…
Tom Dolan will form an all-Irish partnership with the vastly experienced Damian Foxall for the first race for the new Figaro Beneteau 3, the Sardinha Cup which starts on March 27th. After last year’s promising first season in the Figaro…
American Philanthropist Steps in to Support Salvage of Gregor McGuckin’s Yacht
27th February 2019 Solo Sailing
An American philanthropist with a taste for Irish whiskey has stepped in to support the salvage operation to recover Gregor McGuckin’s yacht Hanley Energy Endurance drifting some 1,200 miles west of Perth, Australia. Speaking from Fremantle overnight, American tug boat…
Salvage of Gregor McGuckin's Yacht: Golden Globe Tracker Now Running in 'Stealth Mode'
17th February 2019 Golden Globe Race
Gregor McGuckin's Yellow Brick tracker onboard his abandoned Hanley Endurance Golden Globe yacht is running in stealth mode to stop others from trying to salvage the boat according to Race Headquarters. While McGuckin has returned safely to Ireland a salvage…
After finishing the non-stop round the world Golden Globe Race in France last week, both Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats are struggling with the transition between their solo sailing world and reality ashore. Jean-Luc was comparing notes with…
41–year old Dutch sailor Mark Slats and his Rustler 36 Ophen Maverick took second place overall in the 2018 Golden Globe Race last night, and despite the late hour, received a rousing welcome from Dutch, French and British supporters there…
I enjoyed watching world sailing history being made this week as 73-year-old Jean-Luc Van Den Heede became the oldest man ever to complete and win a solo non-stop round-the-world race. After 212 days alone at sea he won the Golden…
Golden Globe Race: Van Den Heede Receives Huge Welcome Back in Les Sables d’Olonne
29th January 2019 Golden Globe Race
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede wrote his name into the record books by not only winning the 2018 Golden Globe solo non-stop round the world race today, but becoming the oldest in history to complete such a race. The 73-year old…
Jean-Luc van den Heede safely berthed his Rustler 36 Matmut in the Vendee Marina in Les Sables-d’Olonne shortly after 1100 hrs today to confirm him in first place in convincing style in the Golden Jubilee Golden Globe Race writes W M…
Golden Globe Race: Dutch Sailor Faces Penalty for Breach of Satellite Communication Rules
28th January 2019 Golden Globe Race
Second-placed Golden Globe Race skipper Mark Slats tonight is facing a time penalty for a breach of satellite communication rules, and direct outside assistance from his Dutch team manager Dick Koopmans writes Barry Pickthall. Slats is facing a dilemma: To…
Veteran Van den Heede On Line for Tuesday Morning Golden Globe Race Victory
28th January 2019 Golden Globe Race
France’s stellar senior sailor Jean-Luc van den Heede (73) is such an experienced long-distance racer that the last thing he’d welcome is a premature celebration of his expected victory in the Golden Jubilee Golden Globe Race tomorrow morning writes W…