FLI Global are proud to once again sponsor Irish sailor Pat Lawless for the 2026 Golden Globe Race. Pat visited the FLI Global office in Waterford earlier this week to collect his new Rolly Tasker sails in preparation for the September 2026 event.
Pat is a veteran of the GGR2022, where he was also sponsored by FLI Global. He performed exceptionally well in the rankings until an unfixable mechanical issue with the steering mechanism unfortunately forced his retirement from the race.
The Golden Globe Race is a solo, non-stop sailing challenge around the world, inspired by the original Sunday Times Golden Globe Race of 1968. Competitors must navigate without modern technology, relying solely on traditional methods such as celestial navigation using the stars and a sextant.
Sailors will depart from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, before navigating eastbound and south of all the great capes. Remarkably, more people have been to space than have sailed this route alone and without assistance.
The race covers approximately 30,000 nautical miles and takes about 270 days to complete. Competitors must sail boats designed before 1988 and between 32–36 feet in length. With no stops or external support allowed, it is considered one of the toughest and most authentic tests of seamanship in the world.
We wish Pat every success in his 2026 campaign and, above all, a safe return home. The FLI Global team looks forward to being in Les Sables-d’Olonne in September to see him off on this extraordinary journey.
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