Limerick Sailor Pat Lawless, 70, Sets Off on Solo Round-the-World Race to Raise Funds for Parkinson's Ireland
Pat Lawless, a 70-year-old retired fisherman and furniture maker from Limerick and Ballyferriter in County Kerry, has departed from Les Sables-d'Olonne in France to compete in the 2026 Golden Globe Race, a gruelling solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe that he hopes will make him the first Irish person to complete the legendary voyage — and raise vital funds for Parkinson's Ireland along the way.
Background
The Golden Globe Race is one of the most demanding sporting events on earth. Modelled on the original 1968 race won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the modern edition requires competitors to sail production boats between 32 and 36 feet in length, designed prior to 1988, using only traditional navigation methods — sextants, paper charts, and the stars. No GPS, no satellite weather routing, no modern electronic navigation aids. Competitors must be entirely self-sufficient for a voyage that typically takes between nine and twelve months to complete.
Pat Lawless is no stranger to the race. He competed in the 2022 edition but was forced to retire 1,200 nautical miles west of Cape Town when his self-steering system failed, leaving him unable to continue safely. That experience, which he describes as "unfinished business," drove him to return for the 2026 edition with a rebuilt boat, upgraded equipment, and a renewed determination to complete what he started four years ago.
Lawless is sailing a Saltram Saga 36 yacht, renamed Silvermines Hydro after his primary sponsor, a hydroelectric project in County Tipperary. His preparations for the 2026 attempt included the installation of a fully serviced Aries self-steering system with a complete set of spares — a direct response to the mechanical failure that ended his previous campaign — as well as new sails and rigging. He cleared all safety and equipment inspections required by race organisers before his departure.
Key Developments
Lawless departed Les Sables-d'Olonne on 6 September 2026 as part of a fleet of 16 competitors, making him the oldest participant in the race by some margin. His route will take him south through the Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope, across the Southern Ocean, around Cape Horn, and back north through the Atlantic to France — a distance of approximately 30,000 nautical miles.
The race imposes strict communication restrictions on competitors. Lawless is permitted to contact the Golden Globe Race office once a week but is prohibited from calling family or friends during the voyage. For entertainment, he is limited to paper books and cassette tapes — he has packed a collection of Irish traditional and classical music — and must manage the psychological demands of extreme isolation without the digital distractions available to most modern sailors.
His motivation for the race extends beyond personal achievement. Following his wife Rita Geoghegan's diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, Lawless has made fundraising for Parkinson's Ireland a central purpose of his campaign. He draws inspiration from his late father, Pat Lawless Senior, who completed a solo circumnavigation in 1996 at the age of 70, and from other Irish maritime figures such as Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien, who circumnavigated the globe in the 1920s.
Why It Matters
Lawless's participation in the Golden Globe Race is remarkable on several levels. At 70, he is competing in one of the most physically and psychologically demanding endurance events in sport, navigating some of the world's most treacherous waters without the safety net of modern technology. The Southern Ocean, which all competitors must cross, is notorious for its extreme weather, enormous waves, and the near-total absence of rescue infrastructure. The race has claimed boats and, in previous editions, lives.
The fundraising dimension adds another layer of significance. Parkinson's Ireland supports approximately 12,000 people living with the condition across the country, providing information, advocacy, and community support services. The organisation relies heavily on voluntary fundraising, and high-profile campaigns such as Lawless's voyage help to raise both funds and public awareness of a condition that remains poorly understood by many. His personal connection to the cause — his wife's diagnosis — gives the campaign an authenticity that resonates with supporters.
For Irish sailing, the voyage represents a continuation of a proud tradition of solo ocean racing that stretches back decades. No Irish competitor has previously completed the Golden Globe Race, making Lawless's attempt a genuine piece of sporting history in the making.
Local Impact
In Limerick city and across County Kerry, Lawless's departure has generated considerable community support. The Limerick Sailing Club, of which he is a long-standing member, organised a send-off event before his departure for France, and local businesses in Ballyferriter have displayed fundraising materials for Parkinson's Ireland. The Silvermines Hydro sponsorship has also drawn attention to the hydroelectric project in County Tipperary, which is itself a community-owned renewable energy initiative. Parkinson's Ireland has indicated that the campaign has already generated significant online donations, with supporters tracking Lawless's progress via the race's official tracker, which updates his position daily.
What's Next
Lawless is expected to reach the Cape of Good Hope in approximately six to eight weeks, weather permitting. The Golden Globe Race office will provide weekly position updates for all competitors, and Lawless's support team in Ireland will maintain a public fundraising page for Parkinson's Ireland throughout the voyage. If he completes the circumnavigation, he is expected to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne in the spring or early summer of 2027, where he would be welcomed as the first Irish person to finish the race.
