The well-worn path to offshore success on the international stage is now a well-trodden route between Ireland and the main breeding-ground for ocean sailors. Meath sailor Thomas Dolan is the latest recruit to leave these shores though his journey has been markedly different from other well-known offshore sailors.

Now based full-time at Concarneau in the heart of Brittany’s sailing coastline, Dolan is about to set-up his training camp there, close to the head-quarters of another familiar institution that introduced thousands of Irish people to the sport: Les Glenans, that operated for more than four decades around the coasts of Ireland until their two bases here closed permanently at end of 2013.

Staging post

His goal is to qualify for the Mini-Transatlantic race later this year and one if the 84 places, over-subscribed with half the places allocated to pre-qualifiers. The Mini-Transat starts from Brittany on September 19th and races south to staging post for a month lay-over in Lanzarote to allow for hurricane season to end followed by the main race across the Atlantic on October 1st.

Dolan started out his sailing career not via the mainstream route of local sailing clubs but following his father’s interest who returned from working in England with a small kit-build 18-foot wooden dinghy that he sailed on his local lake.

Work experience while at Coláiste Dulaigh at the famous French sailing school in Ireland later became a job offer in return for training to become an instructor.

Working with Glenans led to placements in France and the Caribbean that in turn led to skippering a transatlantic delivery to add to his experience.

Although the total budget for coming six months will be €30,000 to cover the racing expenses including the shipping costs, Dolan caught a lucky break, again through the Glenans link, when he secured the loan of his boat for the season ahead.

Transatlantic

He raced on board the Pogo 2 type that only had one transatlantic since 2002 to it’s name with the owner in the mini-Fastnet two years ago. The owner used to be manager of Les Glenans in Concarneau many years previously until he met his wife and they started a bronze sculpture business.

When his wife passed away several years ago, it was her dying-wish that he would continue sailing so he named the new boat “Avec Francine” which Dolan plans to retain though a sponsor – yet to be secured – would feature prominently.

Like the other Irish sailors who have selected the French offshore route, Dolan hopes that this race will be his stepping-stone to professional sailing and perhaps a place in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Already he has been signed up for two more fully crewed transatlantic races over the next year in an accelerated programme that will be kick-started by the Mini-Transat.

His inspiration has come from Ellen McArthur and Damian Foxall, both of whom trained in the Concarneau and Port La Foret before embarking on their successful international careers.

Foxall was followed by a handful of other Irish sailors including most recently David Kenefick from Cork who campaigned for two seasons in the Figaro single-handed circuit.

Both Foxall and Kenefick are currently competing in the Tour of Arabia that started in Oman last week.

Dolan is determined to follow their lead in the coming years.