Record-breakers sail around Ireland in just under four days
GREYSTONES sailor Pamela Lee and her co-skipper Cat Hunt from the UK have set the first record for an all-female, double-handed circumnavigation of Ireland.
They are hoping to inspire girls in Ireland and the UK to take up offshore sailing on equal terms.
Finishing at Kish lighthouse at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning after 92 hours and 30 minutes, they beat the record for men as well which was 102 hours.
Pamela said that sailing into her home town was special for her.
‘It was great to be able to share this with my family and the community,’ she said. ‘I’ve been sailing for a long time and for the last few years I’ve been away. To sail into Greystones, my home town, where my dad sails, was a great experience. It’s not often you get to sail into your home town, so that was the cherry on top.
‘It’s a bit surreal,’ said the Greystones woman, on being a record-breaker. ‘ The whole project happened quite quickly from idea to concept to making it happen. Then we were in Ireland and ready to go, and working with a navigator.’
With a break in the weather, that navigator said they would need to set sail in the early morning last Tuesday, and so they did. ‘We were up at 5 and out to catch the weather window,’ said Pamela.
The sailors were working in conjunction with the Magenta Project, which aims to develop pathways for women in performance sailing.
‘It was really great being out there for the sail itself,’ said Pamela. ‘ The hardest part was getting everything ready. We really enjoyed it.’
By yesterday, they had enjoyed some long sleeps and were starting to feel recovered.
‘You use a lot of energy in the lead-up as well as while sailing,’ said Pamela. ‘ There’s organising food, communications, looking at navigation and the weather.’
The achievement is now starting to sink in. ‘We’re lucky we managed to get it done with a good weather window, and before further restrictions,’ said Pamela. ‘I’m starting to feel really grateful and relieved and proud. It feels good to put your mind to something and actually pull it off.’
The boat is still in the marina, where it will remain until
Pamela and Cat have had sufficient rest and the weather is suitable to bring it back to France.
There was plenty of interest during Figaro’s stay here and Pamela and Cat were delighted to answer people’s questions and show off the craft.
‘BJ Marine and everyone have been really helpful and supportive,’ said Pamela.
She and Cat hope that their achievement will inspire other girls or kids to take up sailing.
Normally, sailing around Ireland involves a crew of six or eight.
‘ This was a tough challenge, working two hours on and two off all that time, with lots of complex navigation and tiring sail changes – a great achievement and example to all female sailors,’ said Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Cllr Derek Mitchell.
He welcomed the duo at the berth in Greystones Marina in the early hours of Saturday morning. Family members were also there to congratulate the women on their amazing achievement.
The sailors made their voyage on the French-built Figaro yacht, which is very fast and built for shorthanded sailing
with one or two people.
The boat was on loan from Kenny Rumball from Delgany. It had been working up to a week from Greystones Harbour in preparation. ‘I am delighted they have beaten the record and returned to Greystones
Harbour as Pamela Lee actively campaigned, over a decade ago, to get the new harbour built,’ said Cllr Mitchell.