Garda takes on world yachting challenge

MANY would regard working at the State’s largest prison as a daunting enough prospect but one officer is also taking on the challenge of a different nature by participating in a round-the-world yacht race later this year.

Conor O’Byrne (38), who is originally from Baldoyle but now lives in Stepaside, is a Garda based at Mountjoy prison.

He is throwing off the shackles later this year and taking a leave of absence from his policing duties at the prison to participate in the adventure of a lifetime – the Clipper Round the World Yacht race, which is the longest sailing race of its kind.

The young Garda will take part in the race to satisfy his ambitious sense of adventure, but he will also raise money for a fledgling Irish charity – the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (IUSRU) – along the way.

The Clipper race, which begins in August, is the only such event in the world where the organisers – Clipper Ventures Plc – supply a fleet of 12 identical, 70-foot racing yachts.

Each yacht will be manned with a fully qualified skipper, employed to lead the crews, each comprising of 20 amateur sailors, safely around the globe.

The participants, who have to pay e50,750 to participate, will sail around the world in an epic 40,000 mile, 11-month long adventure, with 15 separate legs taking in 12 different countries.

Conor, who previously worked as a technician at the RNLI office in Swords before he became a Garda, explained that crew members are selected during a training course for the challenge.

“They judge you more on your personality and your background rather than your sailing skills because 40 per cent of people taking part have never been on a boat before,

? he said.

Conor believes that his work as a Garda will mean he is well prepared to cope psychologically with the tough conditions he is sure to encounter during the race.

“You will have four hours on and four hours off so your sleep is very limited and in rough conditions you won’t really get to sleep,

? he said.

“You could be up at three in the morning changing your sail in pure darkness and in heavy seas.

?

While he is currently seeking a corporate sponsor and donations from the public to meet the cost of the race, Conor is also participating to raise funds for the IUSRU, which is comprised of volunteers.

The charity’s primary aim is to provide highly qualified search and recovery divers to search for missing persons underwater in rivers, canals, lakes and off the Irish coast.

“They are a fledgling charity that not many people know about,

? Conor added.

“The Dublin Port Authority has given them a container where they can store their boats and equipment in the Docklands. They have a licence to train in the Grand Canal Basin. I said that if I went sailing around the world I would do my best to raise their profile.

?

The IUSRU can be contacted on 087-9758656 or by emailing: info@iusru. Conor can be contacted at conorobyrne74@gmail.com

Anyone who would like to follow Conor’s blog – which he intends to update during the race – or anyone who would like to donate to Conor’s fundraising effort on the behalf of the IUSRU, can log on to www.gardaroundtheworld.wordpress.com

To find out more about the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race log on www.clipperroundtheworld.com