Pat Lawless Golden Globe Race 2026 "UNFINISHED BUISINESS"

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UNFINISHED BUSNISS ………….

After my retirement in the Golden Globe Race 2022. I’m returning to the start line for the Golden Globe Race 2026.

“ I was so honoured and grateful to have such generous support for the GGR 2022. We were even able to raise €4,300 for Parkinson's Ireland (for which we will raise funds for again). It took me a bit of time to come to terms with my retirement in Cape Town. I felt I left you all down. It was only when I got to meet again with all the entrants at the prize giving in Les Sables d’Olonne that I started to realise my retirement from the 2022 race was not the failure my inner mind convinced me it was. Liked my father before me I must go again.”

My Name is Pat Lawless. Originally from Limerick but living in Ballyferriter since 1989. From a young age I have dreamed of sailing solo around the world in a yacht race. While my father was a major influence on me, little did I know at that time my father was also thinking and dreaming of sailing solo around the world. After attempting it first in the mid 80’s he later made it happen in the mid 1990’s and he became the first Irish person to sail solo around the world. I’m following in his wake.

My budget to get to the start of the GGR 2026 is €107,000. It will be funded in various ways. I’m trying to raise €35,000 here on GoFundMe. I’m in discussions for some corporate support. While the rest of the money is raised through some speaking events, contributions from family and friends , and some personal savings.

Golden Globe Race - The GGR is sailing like it’s 1968! The longest, loneliest sporting event in the world.

The first Golden Globe Race took place in 1968. When I heard about the 50th anniversary race (GGR2022) it brought my dream back to life. I could not get it out of my mind. I gathered every euro I had at the time and I bought a mighty boat, the Saltram Saga 36. I raised some funds and Green Rebel came in to support me, that was it I was in the race. The GGR2022 was a fantastic journey until my self-steering let me down 1,200 nautical miles west of Cape Town. That was it, I was out of the race, a hard time. I was in the top 3 or 4 all the way down to Cape Town. It was a hammer blow to retire through a system failure. It was out of my hands.

Only 200 people have ever sailed single handed around the world non-stop. Of that only 30 or so have ever accomplished it without the use of modern technology. No Irish person has sailed solo non-stop around the world.

The experiences and knowledge gained from the 2022 race will stand me in good stead for the next race. I hope you will come on the journey with me again.