Solo Sailing and Circumavigation News

Gregor McGuckin Wins Top Cruising Club of America Award for Ocean Rescue of Competitor
18th February 2020 Solo Sailing
Ocean sailor Gregor McGuckin, of Dublin, has been named a winner of one of the Cruising Club of America’s top awards. McGuckin, age 32, is winner of the Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy for extraordinary efforts to aid a competitor in…

Jangada, the smallest boat in the RORC Transatlantic Race was also the overall winner. Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 Jangada was presented with the RORC Transatlantic Trophy in Grenada at a ceremony and prize-giving banquet held at Camper & Nicholsons…

Enda O’Coineen has many friends who sail Northern Waters. Now there’s the chance to meet up with him next week at the launch of his latest book, Journey to the Edge in No Alibis bookstore on Botanic Avenue, Belfast writes…

New Book Recounts Enda O’Coineen’s ‘Journey To The Edge’ In His Own Words
28th October 2019 Vendee Globe
From Enda O’Coineen, in business and adventure, we can learn much. The man sails on a sea of obsession in life — guided only by the goals he sets himself. He became the first ever Irish entry to qualify for…

Transat Jacques Vabre: 'I Didn’t Choose Joan Mulloy Because She is a Woman'
20th October 2019 Vendee Globe
The progress of equality in sailing can often resemble the turning of an oil tanker rather than a carbon fibre offshore racing boat, but there are some new grounds for optimism at sea. The race village of the 14th edition…

Mayo’s Joan Mulloy Racing Two-Handed to Brazil as Middle Sea Race Departs Malta
18th October 2019 Vendee Globe
Solo sailor Joan Mulloy of Mayo has teamed up as co-skipper with France’s Alexia Barrier on the latter’s veteran IMOCA 60 4Myplanet to become the only all-female crew in the 30-strong IMOCA 60 Class in the 12,000 mile Transat Jacques…

Tom Dolan Calls Off Planned Visit To Dublin Bay Due To Poor Weather & Hurricane Forecast
30th September 2019 Tom Dolan
Due to poor weather interfering with his planned sail to Ireland from Brittany, and concerns with Hurricane Lorenzo later this week, Figaro veteran Tom Dolan has unfortunately had to cancel his scheduled visit to and sailings in Dublin Bay in early October. Dolan…

2018 Golden Globe Race Attracted Multiple Millions In Publicity Worldwide
18th September 2019 Golden Globe Race
Independent analysis on media coverage during the 2018 Golden Globe Race says the event attracted worldwide coverage worth as much as US$185 million. Les Sables d’Olonne, which will be the host start and finish port again in 2022, gained two…

Tom Dolan, the Irish skipper of Smurfit Kappa, finished his first season in the Beneteau Figaro 3 on something of a high note when he took fourth place on the last stage of the 12th Tour de Bretagne à la…

CANCELLED: Get On Board With Tom Dolan Next Month To Raise Funds For Sailing Into Wellness
13th September 2019 Tom Dolan
Update 30 September: Due to poor weather interfering with his planned sail to Ireland from Brittany, and concerns with Hurricane Lorenzo later this week, Tom Dolan has had to cancel his scheduled visit to and sailings in Dublin Bay in…

77-Year-Old Woman Completes Single-Handed Unassisted Nonstop Sailing Circumnavigation
8th September 2019 Solo Sailing
Solo sailor Jeanne Socrates, a member of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), has sailed into Victoria BC harbour on the west coast of Canada on 7th September after successfully completing another single-handed unassisted nonstop circumnavigation. Jeanne set sail from Victoria…

Mayo Sailor Joan Mulloy Sails up the River Thames in Granuaile Re-enactment
8th September 2019 Solo Sailing
County Mayo solo sailor, Joan Mulloy of Westport, will sail along the River Thames to Tower Bridge, completing a special journey that replicates one made by her formidable ancestor, the legendary Granuaile, over 400 years ago. Under black sails emblazoned…

While IMOCA 60s are renowned for racing non-stop around the world in the Vendée Globe, the doublehanded crews of these extraordinary space-age craft appreciate the Rolex Fastnet Race as it offers most conditions of a round the world race within…

The great George David’s Rambler 88 – holder of the Round Ireland monohull record – finished the Rolex Fastnet Race at 0955 this morning to take mono-hull line honours, but the final run into Plymouth from the Scillies put paid to a…

County Kerry's Pat Lawless Named in the Golden Globe 2022 Race Line Up
11th July 2019 Golden Globe Race
Ireland is among 22 entries for the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race that will be hosted again by the Vendée City of Les Sables d'Olonne it has been announced this week. As Afloat previously reported back in April, Pat Lawless…

The 50th Solitaire Urgo-Le Figaro finished last Wednesday after a fourth and final leg won by Eric Péron, which confirmed Yoann Richomme’s overall first place. With hardly any time to get over this fourth leg, which was just as exhausting…