Sailor Peter Lawless sets out on his three-year solo journey across the world

Sailor Peter Lawless pictured with his two daughters Emily and Rachel and his grandchildren the day he set off from Kilrush.

Peter is following in his father’s footsteps as he also ventured on his own three-year solo circumnavigation arriving home in 1996

By I Love Limerick correspondent Ellie McCarthy

On Saturday, August 27, Peter Lawless set sail from Kilrush, County Clare on a solo circumnavigation of the world. He will be at sea for approximately three years.

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Sailor Peter was born and raised in Limerick City. He always had a love for the ocean as he grew up sailing with his family as a child and has not stopped sailing since then. He has said that sailing was the one constant throughout his life that he always had a great love for. Over the years, he has worked with numerous boats, including open timber sailboats and steel and fibreglass yachts.

To sail around the world has always been Peter’s lifelong dream. He wishes to meet new people along the way and show them a different outlook on life and hopes to learn from them too. Peter is excited for all that is ahead of him and wants to encourage other people to take up sailing.

Peter is following in his father’s footsteps as he also ventured on his own three-year solo circumnavigation, arriving home in 1996. He was 70 years old at the time and was a huge inspiration to Peter in his own life.

This is Peter’s second attempt to sail solo unassisted around the world from Ireland by way of the five Great Capes. During his first attempt, Peter’s yacht was damaged after being hit by a whale.

Peter plans to sail down the Atlantic Ocean as far as the Cape Verde Islands, then across the Atlantic to Panama and out into the Pacific Ocean. After he crosses the Pacific Ocean, he will sail over to the north coast of Australia and out into the Indian Ocean. Once across the Indian Ocean, he will sail under Africa and round The Cape of Good Hope, back into the Atlantic Ocean and will then make his way North and his journey back to Ireland will begin.

Peter estimates that he will need €80,000 to finish this project, for which he has established a GoFundMe page.

Over the years, Peter has repaired and upgraded countless boats. He works at sea for a living, repairing and restoring vessels. He genuinely loves his job, and says he feels very lucky to be able to do what he loves as a career.

For Peter, his upcoming trip around the world is the ultimate survival challenge, and it is the challenge that he enjoys. When sailing solo, as Peter does, you must fill every role including navigator, mechanic, and cook. It is his responsibility to make sure everything is working to ensure he can sail safely across the oceans.

It has always been Peter’s lifelong dream to sail around the world. He invites a challenge and is not afraid of the risks – every aspect of this endeavour excites him.

To donate to Peter’s GoFundMe, go HERE

To track Peter’s voyage, go HERE

For more stories on Peter Lawless, go HERE