Galway adventurer aims to navigate the world

The Galway sailor who specialises in setting records on the high seas is about to embark on his toughest test yet – sailing around the world non-stop single-handedly on a 29,000-nautical-mile route.

Enda O’Coineen is Team Ireland’s first ever entry into the Vendée Globe Challenge – dubbed the hardest race in the world – which begins on November 6.

Starting and finishing in Les Sables d’Olonne on France’s Atlantic seaboard, 29 skippers, including the Claddagh native, will sail around the world non-stop single-handedly via the three major capes – Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn.

This race – known as the Everest of the Seas – considered to be one of the toughest sporting and human challenges that there is.

For O’Coineen, this is the pinnacle of a lifetime of ocean experience in maritime sport and voluntary service which has included sailing solo across the Atlantic twice in a 15ft inflatable dinghy; five Fastnet Races; six Round Ireland Races and sailing part of The Whitbread Round the World Race.

O’Coineen – one of the driving forces behind the Volvo Ocean Race successes in Galway – is also the founding President of The Atlantic Youth Trust, an organisation whose mission is to provide youth development opportunities at sea for 15 to 18 year olds on a new Sail Training Tall Ship.

The entrepreneur and businessman has now departed Ireland for France aboard the Kilcullen Voyager before the epic race commences next month.

And during a ‘bon voyage’ event at Dublin’s CHQ this week, the Lord Mayor and Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port, Brendan Carr, officially launched the Atlantic Youth Trust charity’s schools programme, which encourages primary school children to follow the epic race and become interested in sailing.

The Kilcullen Voyager is a 60-foot monohull which is among the fastest modern racing monohulls, designed to be as light as possible whilst being solid enough to withstand the worst conditions which can occur whilst racing on the open seas. It also features a Claddagh design as a nod to Enda’s Galway roots.

“Sailing out of Dublin city centre with the well wishes of the Lord Mayor and Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port is a true honour,” he said this week.

“The departure represents the start of a 25,000 mile journey that will bring me deep into the Southern Ocean and ultimately past Cape Horn and back to France in sailing’s toughest race, the Vendée Globe.

“If all goes to plan I will be back in Dublin in March having lapped with planet alone, without stopping. We at the Atlantic Youth Trust hope to inspire the next generation of ocean adventurers to look to the sea for fun, adventure and opportunities.”

For more information, see www.teamireland.ie