Displaying items by tag: FEXCO

8th June 2015

Dukarska Lands Sponsorship as she Targets Olympic Spot for Ireland Pair

#Rowing: Ireland rower Monika Dukarska will be sponsored by foreign exchange specialist FEXCO this season as she and rowing partner Leonora Kennedy target qualification for the Ireland pair for the Olympic Games next year. FEXCO is a multinational finance and business solutions provider with operations in 28 countries. Its head office is in Killorglin in Kerry.

The Ireland crew of Dukarska and Kennedy will qualify the pair for Rio 2016 if they finish in the top 11 at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette in France in September.

Dukarska, who is 24, started rowing at the Killorglin Rowing Club shortly after moving to Ireland from Poland when she was 16.

Shane Kavanagh, the group marketing director of FEXCO, said: “We are delighted to be working with Monika during her training for the Olympics, and it would be great to see a women’s pair qualify and make Irish history.

“Monika is an extremely talented athlete, with an incredible amount of drive and ambition. This is clear through her dedication to rowing throughout her school years, as well as receiving a first class bachelors and masters degree, while competing at a professional level. We look forward to supporting Monika on the road to Rio.”

Dukarska said: “It’s great to have FEXCO behind me during the Rio qualifying rounds.

“Our success at the Memorial Paolo d’Aloja Regatta was a great start to the season. Despite being my first international regatta in the women’s pair event, my partner Leonora Kennedy and I managed to take home the gold in both races. We had a good result last week in Poznan finishing ninth in the European Championships. I’m glad to be home in Ireland now and training harder than ever for September’s qualifier.”

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.