Achill Ache For Tom Dolan Round Ireland Challenge

5th May 2023

Tom Dolan and his "non-sailing cameraman" aboard the Figaro 3 Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan Credit: Tom Dolan Racing

Day Two 0900 - Tom Dolan and his "non-sailing cameraman" aboard the Figaro 3 Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan, in their current multi-interpretation Round Ireland Challenge (is it double or solo?), had a frustrating time out beyond Achill Island early this morning. The unstable wind patterns within the messy low-pressure area, which has dominated Ireland's weather for the last couple of days, saw speeds slowed right back to five knots or less.

With Tom's progress generally so slowed, the circuit they are aiming to beat - Michael Kleinjan's Class 40 solo time of 4 days and 4 hours in 2005 - now sees the trailing Belgian Kleinjans' relative position improving by the hour.

But with the low now moving northwest into the Atlantic, fair winds for the Irish skipper may soon arrive, even though they may prove to be headwinds beyond Malin Head. But with the wind pressure slackening all the time, it may be some time before getting past Malin Head has reached the top of the Dolan agenda.

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WM Nixon

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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.

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Tom Dolan, Solo Offshore Sailor

Even when County Meath solo sailor Tom Dolan had been down the numbers in the early stages of the four-stage 2,000 mile 2020 Figaro Race, Dolan and his boat were soon eating their way up through the fleet in any situation which demanded difficult tactical decisions.

His fifth overall at the finish – the highest-placed non-French sailor and winner of the Vivi Cup – had him right among the international elite in one of 2020's few major events.

The 33-year-old who has lived in Concarneau, Brittany since 2009 but grew up on a farm in rural County Meath came into the gruelling four-stage race aiming to get into the top half of the fleet and to underline his potential to Irish sailing administrators considering the selection process for the 2024 Olympic Mixed Double Offshore category which comes in for the Paris games.