Irish Sailor Set to Step foot on New Zealand Soil

Irish Sailor Set to Step foot on New Zealand Soil After 60 Days Alone at Sea

Enda O’Coineen set out from France alongside New Zealander Conrad Coleman on 6 November in the Vendee Globe sailing race, a solo, non-stop race around the planet. On New Years Day disaster struck when a 35 knot squall caught Enda off guard and the mast on his IMOCA 60, Kilcullen Voyager, came tumbling down 180 nautical miles south of New Zealand.

After 5 days of drifting with no engine Enda is being blown close enough to shore so a local vessel can assist with the recovery of him and his vessel.

Speaking about the incident Enda said:

“The mast collapsed over the the side and I’m lucky to have survived actually. I have to laugh because if I don’t I will cry.”

Enda is the first Irish person to compete in what is considered the ‘Everest of the Seas, minus the Sherpas’. Enda added:

“The principle of the race is challenging the environment and the elements and I don’t really want to call the rescue services, but I do need help. It’s not easy, I’m just waiting for the right wind, and it’s just a matter of patience. Hopefully I can get up to New Zealand and sort out the boat, and hopefully perhaps continue around the world – or abort – I’m just not sure at this point.”

A fishing vessel is set to depart Dunedin in the coming 24 hours to tow Enda to a safe port. On arrival Enda and the Team face some tough decisions as to what to do next, officially he is out of the race, but the title of first Irishman to sail alone around the planet is still up for grabs. He does now hold the title for the furthest distance sailed alone by an Irishman. Earlier adventures have seen Enda sail alone across the Atlantic in inflatable dinghies, competing in mini transats, and setting record times in sailing for circumnavigating Ireland.

One of the highs of Enda’s race saw him cross the equator shortly after he learnt that his first granddaughter was born - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21gXIXLW8tw&t

For a man who lives on the other side of the world Enda has strong ties to New Zealand. His boat was built in Wellington by Hake Marine in 2007, and he is also President of The Irish Pubs Global Federation. However, the most remarkable link comes in the form of the Atlantic Youth Trust.

Ireland has a colourful history when it comes to tall ships and training ships. In 2010 they found themselves with no operating ships on the island, north or south. Enda O’Coineen and a number of others set out on a global study to identify the best model to replicate in Ireland. That search led them to New Zealand and the Spirit of Adventure Trust.

The Atlantic Youth Trust has since visited the Spirit of New Zealand, Irish teenagers have travelled to New Zealand to experience it first hand. And now both the Irish and Northern Irish government have adopted plans to replicate the Spirit of Adventure Trust model for young people across the island of Ireland.

Reasons for replicating the Spirit were the focus on youth development, the ability to overcome social and integration challenges, similar population sizes, and the strong ties the Trust has with schools.

We ask the public to do what they can to welcome Enda to New Zealand. He is expected to hit the shore sometime on Friday, for more accurate updates see the team’s Facebook Page ‘Kilcullen Voyager Team Ireland’ and the Vendee Globe Race Tracker.

Notes to Editor:

Team Website – www.teamireland.ie

Facebook – Kilcullen Voyager Team Ireland

Atlantic Youth Trust – www.atlanticyouthtrust.org

Full photo album can be accessed here - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b3r8v3fdmzaafw2/AAAMbPLfufsEUMDqhVKCvgeGa?dl=0

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