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Pat Lawless and 'Green Rebel' Set off From Cork Harbour For Golden Globe Solo Round the World Race

26th July 2022
Pat Lawless departing from Dingle on Saturday prior to his Cork Harbour departure for the Golden Globe Race this morning
Pat Lawless departing from Dingle on Saturday prior to his Cork Harbour departure for the Golden Globe Race this morning Credit: Kieran Ryan Benson

Irish sailor Pat Lawless is departing from Crosshaven in Cork Harbour this morning on his mission to become the first Irish person to sail around the world non-stop as part of the Golden Globe Race.

Cork based company Green Rebel is the main sponsor for Pat Lawless’ entry to the race and representatives from the company joined Pat in Crosshaven today to wish him well. Over the last few weeks, Pat has been inviting supporters to sign his sail before he sets off. The race is expected to last around nine months.

The Golden Globe Race 2022 will begin on 4th September when 18 sailors depart Les Sables-d’Olonne and aim to sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables-d’Olonne. Pat has named his boat - Green Rebel. Once he leaves Crosshaven he will head to Spain to take part in the prologue race before the main event. This is a 280-mile course that will lead the sailors from Gijón to the port of Sables d’Olonne for the start of the Golden Globe Race.

Pat said: “I cannot wait to get started and I want to thank everyone for their support so far. I am really looking forward to the race and making Ireland proud. Thank you to all my sponsors and to Green Rebel for their support. Myself and my boat, which is called Green Rebel, will be at the start line in France in September and we will be flying the flag for Ireland.”

CEO of Green Rebel, Kieran Ivers said: “We are so delighted to be supporting Pat as he sets out to make Irish history. Pat is brave and determined and we are all so proud of him at Green Rebel. We want to wish him the very best in the Golden Globe Race and he knows all of Ireland will be cheering him on as he takes on the challenge on Green Rebel.”

Over the course of the Golden Globe Race sailors will circumnavigate 30,000 nautical miles across some of the most dangerous seas in the world. The race is expected to take between seven and 11 months to complete. The competitors will not be permitted to use modern technology and can only use items that were available in 1968. Pat will navigate by the position of the sun using only a sextant and paper charts. Clocks must be mechanical, and there are no modern luxuries such as GPS, satellite phones, iPads, electrical auto steering and water makers. The competitors will carry all their own food, water, tools, and spare parts for the nine months at sea. 

Pat Lawless, a carpenter and former fisherman from Kerry will be the only Irish competitor in the yacht race. Pat is 66 years of age and has been sailing all his life. He is following in the footsteps of his late father (Pat Lawless Snr) who sailed around the world at the age of 70. Pat will also be raising money for Parkinson's Association of Ireland as part of the race. 

External communication with family friends or support groups will not be allowed for the duration of the race. This is the third time the Golden Globe Race has taken place and in previous years many competitors failed to complete the race.

Around 6,000 people have climbed Everest while 556 people have been to space, but only 100 people have ever sailed solo nonstop around the world via the five great capes.

Golden Globe Yacht Race Live Tracker 2022/3

Track the progress of the 2022/3 Golden Globe Race fleet on the live tracker above and see all Afloat's Golden Globe Race coverage in one handy link here

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil