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Mark O’Connor – Fireside Chats

Mark O’Connor – Fireside Chats

Join us for an unforgettable fireside chat with Mark O’Connor on January 15th.

Hear first-hand tales from one of Ireland’s most inspiring sailing achievements as Mark recounts his incredible Mini Transat adventure â€” a race widely regarded as one of the toughest solo ocean challenges in the world.

Mark took on the Atlantic alone, racing a 6.5-metre boat across thousands of miles of open ocean with no outside assistance, no weather routing, and no support — just skill, resilience, and determination. Battling relentless seas, shifting winds, exhaustion, and isolation, Mark pushed himself to the absolute limit.

His journey culminated in an extraordinary 20th-place photo finish after 17 intense days at sea, making Mark the youngest Irish Sailor to cross the Atlantic Solo, a testament to razor-thin margins, mental toughness, and relentless focus.

From moments of pure exhilaration to the harsh realities of solo life offshore, Mark will share what it truly takes to survive — and compete — in one of sailing’s most demanding races.

Expect gripping stories, hard-won lessons, and an honest look at courage, preparation, and perseverance on the Atlantic Ocean.

January 15th @ 7.30pm

18 Dec, 2025 | 1 min read

An Evening With Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

An Evening With Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Fundraiser in aid of UNICEF.  Hosted by Newstalk's Bobby Kerr.

Join an evening in Dun Laoghaire for dinner and conversation with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world and the winner of the first ever Golden Globe Race.

Dubbed the “David Attenborough of sailing” when he received the Pindar Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2025, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s story is one of pioneering adventure, courage and one that has helped chart a course for those brave men and women that have followed in his wake.

Friday 20 February 2026

Start: 6.30pm

Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

Ticket* €70

All profits on the evening go to UNICEF.

An Ideal Christmas Gift for the sailor in your life or the adventurer in you!

*Tickets include a 3 course meal + donation to UNICEF + entertainment on the evening.

Click Here To Book

12 Dec, 2025 | 1 min read

A Thank you to my supporters

A Thank you to my supporters

Mission Accomplished : Mini Transat đŸ

On Monday, November 10th at 5:27 p.m. local time (9:27 p.m. UTC), Mini Skippy and I crossed the finish line in Saint-François, Guadeloupe.

After more than 16 days alone at sea, we completed this Atlantic crossing aboard a 6.50 meter boat, without assistance, without communication, relying on my training,  skill and resilience.

The final miles delivered a thrilling showdown: a side-by-side sprint with another competitor to secure 20th place in the production boat ranking.  

As the finish line appeared on the horizon, Mini Skippy was behind Antoine Canivet’s pink boat, having overtaken him during the night and then fallen back. I knew I had to make a move and switching into match racing mode, I used the gusts and waves glide slightly downwind, and with a little burst of speed came level before overtaking his pink boat just meters before the line. I knew that with the first leg cancelled, this was it. Not the moment to give up.

After more than two weeks, 2,600 miles sailed, and an entire ocean crossed, we clinched the finish in a photo finish, just 27 seconds ahead.

Read More

 

21 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

What a Week for Our Sailors!

What a Week for Our Sailors!

Brian Uniacke and Team Tongyeong have successfully arrived in Cape Town after completing Stage 3 of the 2025/2026 Clipper Round the World Race! The team currently sits in 6th place, an impressive achievement after thousands of nautical miles at sea.
Up next, on November 16th, they’ll set off on Stage 4: Marlow’s Blue Ocean Sleigh Ride — an exhilarating 4,800nm ocean crossing from Cape Town, South Africa to Fremantle, Australia.

Meanwhile, Damien Payne has returned home after his incredible adventure with Team “Power of Seattle Sport.” We’ll continue to cheer on Damien’s teammates, who are currently in 4th place after earning 3 vital points at the scoring gate in the last stage.

We’ll hear more from Damien over the coming weeks, as he shares some of his amazing stories with us, from the “choppy” waters in the Bay of Biscay, to lightning storms mid Atlantic.

Our junior sailors have also been making waves abroad!

13 Nov, 2025 | 2 min read

Congratulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

Congratulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

The following is a report of Marks thrilling finish posted by the organisers. 

It is very noteworthy that Mark sailed 3260 nm which is between 100 and 150nm more than many of his closest competitors. To do so and finish so well is testament to Marks perseverance and skill in achieving his ambitions. 

All of his efforts is only made possible by the superb support received from you all so bask in the reflected glory of this fantastic achievement 

Mark O'Connor: A Rough Start, A Sharp Final

11 Nov, 2025 | 4 min read

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

 

760 milles left to Guadeloupe
Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.

 

He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.

 

At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
 

Life on board
Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.

 

Speaking of strain
 let’s talk about sleep.

At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile. 

 

So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.

 

Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.

 

Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure.
 

Current Standings and Strategic Moves 
Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.

 

He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!

 

According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.

 

We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense!
 

Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.

 

As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.

 

Focus will be essential all the way to the finish
 
Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK
 
 
  ­
 

 

07 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Mini Transat Report 6 November

Mini Transat Report 6 November

The end is looming in sight with the Prototype  leaders expected to finish late Friday / early Saturday morning   For the rest of the fleet with 1/2 seeing the miles turn to under 1000 nm tactics will be foremost on their minds. 

While the prevailing wind direction is generally favourable to get to St Francis there are still variations in pressure and wind speed which each skipper must work out to determine their own strategy and tactics. 

This is most evident in a pack of 6 boats which Mark O’Connor is part of. Over the past 36 hours Mark has been both leading and at the back of this pack (position 18)  and all points in between. Currently he is ranked 24th at the back having taken an early decision to turn south to reach a more favourable wind stream. At time of writing the boats ahead could be considered to have consolidated their position ahead with Mark trailing 18th place by 25 miles. However with at least another 4 days to get to the finish there is plenty of time for lots of changes in the leader board. Mark has a clean passage of good pressure and winds in his path while the boats at 18th - 21st place ae facing into a soft patch in the near term. plenty to play for. 

Just to remind you all skippers have very limited real time information on board. While we can log into our favourite weather source and get excellent visuals for up to a week ahead, The Mini skippers however have no such luxury and rely solely on a broadcast by the race organisation daily, in French. giving the weather situation, the 48-hour forecast and the distance to the finish for each competitor. From this each Skipper must work out where the variations in pressure and wind speed is in relation to their current position and from that work out how best to use to advantage. 

 They can use a VHF to communicate with the boats close to them but this has a limited range of approx. 15 miles.  

At current rate of speed and forecast weather conditions we would expect Mark to finish sometime on Monday.

The other Irish Interest Grainne Costigan is approx. 140 miles behind Mark in 48 place. However it is important to remember that this is not strictly a race but more  a test of personal endurance and skill to navigate a tiny vessel across the Atlantic. All who achieve that are winners and worthy of every accolade and celebration !

Life on board

The air is warm, the water is warm, and the fast downwind surfs under spinnaker are back. But after 15 days at sea, the heat and salty humidity are making life on board increasingly challenging. To find a bit of comfort in these conditions, Mark brought along a small fan. According to past experience, it can become essential for getting any sleep in this sticky atmosphere.

Here’s a quick look at some of the must-haves aboard Mark’s boat!

Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK

 

Sean Doyle.

06 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

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