Galway adventurer forced to pull out of world boat race

Galway sailor Enda O’Coineen has spoken of his devastation at having to pull out of the Vendée Globe Challenge around the world race after the mast on his boat broke.

The first ever Irish entry to the 29,000 nautical mile race – dubbed the most difficult race in the world – had been at sea on the Kilcullen Voyager for 57 days.

The Galway adventurer was forced out of the race when the self-steering malfunctioned and the mast snapped in a sudden vicious squall.

He said he was caught unaware and was devastated at having to pull out of the race 180 nautical miles to the south east of Dunedin, New Zealand.

“You roll the dice. I was caught a little bit unawares. I was in 20-25 kts of breeze and a very vicious 35kt squall came through and the self-steering malfunctioned just at the wrong moment. I did an involuntary gybe and then a gybe back.

“The boat was out of control and I was caught without the runner properly on and the mast snapped. I have to laugh because if I don’t I will cry.

“The mast came clean off at the deck and in fact it was intact. But the whole rig went over the side. I had the difficult decision to make of whether to try and save the rig or whether to save the hull of the boat.

“I thought of safety first. I cut the rig free from the boat. I was worried that the stump of the rig would hole the boat. The seas were pretty wild. There was a big sea running. I cut the entire rig free.

Enda O’Coineen on board the Kilcullen Voyager

“I am mastless, the deck was holed. It is not a happy situation but there it is, you roll the dice. That is the risk you take.

“I am devastated. Things were going quite well. I was in good shape. Having got this far I felt we could handle anything. There was just that little malfunction of the self-steering that set a whole train in motion. I have to accept responsibility. What happens, happens.

“Look, you have to be philosophical. This sort of sailing is living on the edge. I have been doing that for 57 days and as the fella says if you are living on the edge you are taking up too much space. I was taking up too much space on the edge.

“It is January 1st. It is a New Day and a New Year and it is time to move on. My Vendée Globe is over,” said Mr O’Coineen.