Conor O’Byrne, a serving Garda from Stepaside, swapped the beat for the thrill of ocean racing when he signed up to compete in the 40,000 mile, 11-month Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. As the fleet makes its way to Northern Ireland, Conor reflects on the last 10 months and prepares for life after the race.
“SO here we are on our last ocean race, 2,950 miles to our boat sponsors and host port, Derry-Londonderry.
It’s been a tough nine and a half months, which have seen many highs and some lows. As the saying goes, sailors have short memories and so I have no lows to mention.
Since we left New York we have had some beautiful weather, we have been wearing shorts and t-shirts and enjoyed some good helming, so the low points have easily been forgotten.
I know the weather will change very soon. It’s the Atlantic, this racing is never easy, but if it was easy why would I have wanted to do it in the first place?
With the race nearing completion in a month’s time it offers time for reflection. The sailing was unbelievable, not always easy but what I have experienced since the start will stay with me forever.
Helming is the best feeling, and reaching my highest speed of 24.3 knots in the Southern Ocean left me with the biggest adrenaline rush and a smile as big as a Cheshire cat.
I get as much satisfaction of sailing in light winds, making the boat move forward just a little when the wind is nearly non-existent as from the high speed downwind sailing.
I will also take away many new skills, not just on sailing, but also after cooking for 23 people, in dealing with people in confined space and how to enjoy life without social networking online.
I have learnt a lot about myself during the race. Some good things but also some not so good. All I know is that the experience of the Clipper Race has not only improved my sailing skills but also who I am as a person. I am also grateful to have an excellent skipper, Sean McCarter, who has helped me in so many ways. I know I may look unhappy at times but as I say,
‘inside I’m dancing’.
However, soon the bubble of the Clipper Race will soon be gone and getting back to reality will come as a bit of a shock. A return to work and walking the beat in Dublin is so far removed from sitting on a 70ft racing yacht watching dolphins putting on an aerobatic display.
But I will be glad to be home, to be with my family, my new fiancée, Susie, and with friends. The race has given me so many positives; I have met some fabulous people through the race, not only on my boat but also crew members from other boats.
Their friendship will give me lasting memories. The stop-overs are fantastic, it’s like a holiday at the end of each race, but that’s only if you get in near the front of the fleet. The Clipper Race is also a great way to experience different cultures.
It’s been a great 10 months. An experience I will cherish forever. I have huge respect for all the staff at the Clipper Race, from the maintenance crew, media crew and also the race office crew who have added to the experience of racing around the world.
I am grateful for the support that my family have given me, especially their visits to stopovers, I just wished we had more time. You can’t beat seeing your parents on the shoreline waving flags and banners after 34 days at sea.
I am also grateful to Susie who supported me from the outset so I could live the dream. I know it wasn’t always easy but it came good in the end.
So as always, love to Mum and Dad and the rest of the family. So good to see Alex and Keeva in New York, when I felt low the thoughts of them meeting me in New York spurred me on.
Love to Susie and I am so thankful that you accepted my proposal in New York.
Finally to the crew of the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, I hope throughout the race I have raised your profile as promised. A splendid group who just want to help families to find their loved ones.
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