One of our very own captains, Conor Fogerty, along with his sailing partner Susan Glenny, will be representing Ireland in the EUROSAF 2020 European Mixed Keelboat Championships.
Despite all qualifying events being cancelled due to Covid-19, the duo are powering through with endorsements from Irish Sailing and other sponsors. Nonetheless, they are looking to increase their funding, in order to pay for insurance, entry fees and accommodation cost, amongst other things, through crowdfunding. If you would like to help to Conor and Susan’s endeavours, click here to donate.
Conor is an internationally renowned competitive sailor, having been voted the Irish Sailor of the Year in 2017, and competing in global offshore sailing events. Check out our exclusive interview with Conor last year about his many wins and working as a delivery captain: Where Are They Now: Conor Fogerty.
Conor Fogerty was voted Irish Sailor of the Year in 2017 for his outstanding performance in the transatlantic single-handed OSTAR race, surviving a mid-ocean storm, in his Jeanneau 3600 Bam!, and far outstripping the rest of the fleet to place second overall and first in the Gipsy Moth class. Since then Fogerty has been speeding onto bigger and better things: he has launched a campaign for the 2020 Vendee Globe race, a single-handed non-stop global race in which he will sail Ireland’s first foiling keelboat, Raw, and will then be aiming for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
‘Here’s a more recent pic of me, with more laughter lines’
Q. What are you up to currently? Tell me a little bit about what kind of work you do now.
A. My current project is “Raw” a Foiling Figaro 3, This year I’m racing the RORC circuit, including a Transatlantic and the Caribbean 600. Next year I will be doing the Solitair de Figaro single handed circuit, leading up to the possibility of the Olympics in 2024 in the double handed mixed keel boat.
Q. How did you first meet Nick, or start working for Reliance?
A. I first met Nick in 1995, almost 25 years ago! A lot of water has passed under the keel since then, for both of us. I signed up as crew to do a delivery, a Mooring 505, from St.Gills to Tortola, with Tobais Arnold as skipper. It was a wonderful experience, and gave me a thirst for more.
Q. How long did you work for Reliance, and what work did you get up to? Do you have any highlights?
A. My first skipper’s Job with Reliance was a Med Job for Sunsail in 1996, I then went on to do numerous Transatlantic’s, Med and Indian Ocean jobs, accumulating over 200,000nm. Some of the more memorable trips where: The longest Delivery ever! Sailing from Australia to the BVI, instead of heading East in to headwinds, it was decided to head West, an extra 4knm ontop! So Sailing half the world plus the extra 4k must be some sort of record… Or Canalling through France, passing some 150 locks and the stunning aqueduct in Lyon, whilst on passage from Greece to the UK.
Q. What skills did you require and/or develop while working at Reliance?
A. I think the most important skills I learnt from my time with Reliance, was people management, which came into play when I was selected as Skipper for the Clipper Round the world race in 2005/06, managing a crew of 18 racing around the world takes skill and experience, and my many miles as skipper with novice crew when working with Reliance was a definite advantage. I also believe that high standard of boat preparation (as with every delivery) has played a major role in my career. Having the knowledge and experience of what to expect, helped in winning the Single handed Transatlantic OSTAR in 2017.
Q. How did working at Reliance help you get to where you are now?
A. Through doing back to back deliveries to the BVI, I have met some characters, one was so impressed with my deliveries and stories, that plans where made under the Caribbean sun to buy him an Oster 70, which I ended up sailing around the world for three years with my wife back in 2000-03.
Q. What influence did Reliance have on your career?
A. I am now a professional offshore racer, without gaining valuable miles (100’s of thousands) with Reliance, I’m sure the path would have been different. And in the back of mind, I’m pretty sure my days with Reliance aren’t done!
Dùghall has over 33 years of experience in yacht management. With an excess of 500,000 nautical miles, he has sailed all over the world and has a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in cruising that few could match. For the past six years Dùghall has been the captain of a 78 metre Feadship superyacht. He is responsible for a 31 rotational crew, with a worldwide itinerary.
Q. How did you first start working for Reliance?
A. I contacted Nick when I passed my Yachtmaster Ocean Theory, but he was looking for potential skippers to run as mate initially for expenses only. Later after I had taken a fleet of yachts for Sunsail to the Seychelles Nick contacted me just before New Year 96 with a request to deliver a Moorings 500 (I think), France to Tortola. Short notice but I jumped at the chance and was in France by 7th January. Luckily, I was able to celebrate New Year in Edinburgh before I left!
Q. How long did you work for Reliance, and what work did you get up to? Do you have any highlights?
A. I did 3 years with Reliance and my highlights were delivering a further 4-yacht-fleet to the Seychelles for Sunsail – and as I chose the skippers and was in command, much preferred the more professional operation with Reliance. Also delivered a 106-foot Sloop – France to Thailand – and a Sunfast 39 – St Maarten to New Zealand – where I think the crew were slightly taken aback when after a 24 day crossing from Panama to Marquesas I gave them [only] 36 hours ashore before heading off on a 14 day passage to Tonga. We spent three days there [Tonga] and found out on one of them of Princess Diana’s death. On my arrival in NZ I discovered that Scotland had voted for Devolution. The things you miss at sea – especially in those days of less comms!
Q. What skills did you require and/or develop while working at Reliance?
A. You had to be able to sail for sure, but you also needed patience working with crew who were there for miles-building rather than money; you also needed to be able to drop everything and go when a job came up. Nick knew that if I was not on one of his jobs, I would be available. I personally needed to be able to work through seasickness as it was the bane of my life at the time. But perseverance means that I don’t get it anymore.
Q. How did working at Reliance help you get to where you are now?
A. Working for Reliance gave me a way back into yachting after I had been out for some time. It also gave me the knowledge of a lot more areas than I had been used to and suffice to say that currently in the six years and two world cruises, on my present command I have only visited two new countries.
Q. What influence did Reliance have on your career?
A. Working for Reliance gave me the required sea-time to complete my Masters and progress to where I am now.
Q. How did you first start working for Reliance?