WM Nixon
William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.
When Damien Guillou of France and then Pat Lawless of Ireland exited the Bay of Biscay ahead of the rest of the Golden Globe Race fleet, it was becoming increasingly clear that a weather pattern was developing that might give…
The two leaders in the Golden Globe Race 2026 continue to sail merrily down the South Atlantic off the coast of South America in a continuing soldier's wind from east sou'east, while the remainder of the fleet continue to be…
Golden Globe leader Damien Guillou of France with the Rustler 36 Solarem was making hay right through Friday, speeding south on a reach at 7.5 knots, with 172 miles made good in the 24 hours as he raced into the…
Sailing’s Championship of Champions Gets Fresh Head of Steam With 80th Anniversary On Horizon
3rd October 2026 All Irelands
The new-look Championship of Champions is taking place during this and next weekend, with the Dinghy Championship starting this morning for two days at Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire racing Melges 15s with GP14 ace Ger Owens of…
Pat Lawless Up to Speed South of Equator as Golden Globe Leaders Pull Clear
2nd October 2026 Golden Globe Race
Both of the leaders in the Golden Globe Race 2026 are now south of the Equator, with Pat Lawless of Limerick crossing the line at 1710 UTC yesterday (Thursday). The Southern Hemisphere has made his Saltram Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro…
France’s Damien Guillou, racing the Rustler 36 Solarem, was the first of the Golden Globe Race 2026 fleet across the Equator during Wednesday night. Logging 6.4 knots, Guillou was close-reaching south in a good east-sou’easterly breeze and continuing to extend…
With 23,500 miles still to sail back to the finish at Les Sables-d’Olonne, it is surely premature to talk about the rich getting richer in the early stages of the Golden Globe Race 2026. But nevertheless there’s no doubting, going…
The long hot summer may have given sailors an exceptional level of experience in racing in easterly breezes, but in Howth the westerlies of autumn have come in bang on cue for the first three Saturdays of the 2026 Autumn…
Golden Globe Race leaders Damien Guillou (France) and Pat Lawless (Ireland) made only moderate progress southwestward through Sunday as they struggled with light winds — sometimes from ahead — in order to reach the more favourable southeasterly breezes blowing across…
With extreme weather events currently being registered in at least half a dozen locations worldwide, we get a further insight into the enormity of the challenge being undertaken by the Golden Globe racers as they work their way south past…
Golden Globe leaders Damien Guillou of France in the Rustler 36 Solarem and Pat Lawless of Ireland in the Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro got themselves well south of the deepening low pressure area moving north along the east side of…
Horses for Courses? Choosing the Right “Cruiser-Racer” Involves More Than Speed Potential
26th September 2026 W M Nixon
Time was that when you went down to do the West Cork regattas with your beloved little cruiser-racer, you naturally expected to live aboard throughout the week. But as the fleets grew and the racing became more intense, even the…
Although global wind maps had been showing a clear line of windless doldrums running due west from the coast of Guinea in Africa until 24 hours ago, the doldrum area close southeast of the Cape Verde islands has suddenly come…
Golden Globe Racers Head Southwest To Avoid Calm Off African Coast
24th September 2026 Golden Globe Race
An area of calm in towards the African coast in the latitude of the Cape Verde islands has encouraged the leaders in the Golden Globe Race to head southwest in a search for the best course to minimise time in…
Golden Globe Leaders Romp Past Cape Verdes, But Flukey Winds of Doldrums Now a Real Prospect
23rd September 2026 Golden Globe Race
Going into Tuesday night (September 22nd) the two leaders in the Golden Globe Race were on course at hull speed in fresh to strong northerlies pushing towards 30 mph, and sweeping past the east side of Cape Verde Islands. Damien…
Golden Globe Leaders Set to Pass Between Cape Verde Islands and African Coast
22nd September 2026 Golden Globe Race
Damien Guillou of France and Pat Lawless of Ireland continue to be the very clear leaders in the Golden Globe Non-Stop Round the World Solo Race, and last night (Monday) were shaping up to pass midway between the Cape Verdes…
Golden Globe 2026 front runners Damien Guillou (France) and Pat Lawless (Ireland) continue to make good progress towards the Cape Verde Islands, but south of the archipelago the mostly nor'east winds they currently benefit from become weaker and split into…
Pat Lawless Takes 17 Miles Out Of Guillou Golden Globe Lead During Friday's Sailing
18th September 2026 Golden Globe Race
The sailing during Friday (September 18th) between the two leading boats in the Golden Globe Race 2026 has seen an interesting shift in tactics as front-runnner Damien Guillou in his Rustler 36 transferred to a track close along the African…
There are reasonably sound scientific reasons for thinking that any living breathing mammal in the Northern Hemisphere will be slightly off his, her or its trolley as the month of March comes upon us. In fact, after the long gloom…
Golden Globe 2026: Closing on African Coast Sets Back Pat Lawless Challenge
18th September 2026 Golden Globe Race
France's Damien Guillou racing the Rustler 36 Solarem in the Golden Globe 2026 had lengthened his lead over Ireland's Pat Lawless to 65 miles at midnight Thursday (September 17th) as they made southing from the Canaries. Lawless had minimised his…
