Posted online: Feb 23rd, 2010

The Fahan skipper of the Irish entry in the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race has returned to Inishowen after his boat was forced to quit the race last month.

Richie Fearon skippered the Irish crew on board the yacht  ‘Cork’ that narrowly escaped disaster when it struck rocks and sunk in Indonesian waters during the major worldwide race.

The 29 year-old, who plays for Inishowen Rugby Club, had led the 16 member crew of Irish, British, Australian and Chinese sailors to two podium finishes in the series before the incident on January 13th.

Cork was sailing in 20-knot winds when it hit a submerged reef in the Java Sea with the crew forced to abandon the yacht in life rafts before heading for nearby rocks. 

After they sent a may day alert the race stage was cancelled and they were forced to wait for hours before being rescued by the rival California Clipper and Team Finland vessels. 

Lough Swilly Yacht Club member Richie was appointed Irish skipper last May following a long selection process.

“160 people applied for the position initially and following an interview process I was selected for skipper trials out on the water,” he explained. “I was pleased to be selected as a skipper and then delighted when I got to skipper the Irish entry.”

The highlight of Richie’s period as skipper came when the Irish boat won the Rio to Cape Town stage of the World Race before Christmas.

“We just got a pretty bad gust at the wrong time, “ he said. “It was gutting to be honest because the crew had worked so hard and we were looking forward to competing in the rest of the race.”

“The reef was acting as a mark so the rest of the fleet in the race were going past us, we made the call and the race was abandoned within 15 minutes, the crash happened at 4am and we were waiting on the rocks until 7.30am in 30 plus knots of wind and with waves breaking on the rocks. 

Organisers of the Round the World Yacht Race have sourced a replacement yacht and Cork will be ready for the crew to join in Panama for the start of Race 9 to Jamaica in May. But Richie has returned to Ireland while the incident is investigated. 

“Some of the crew have been allocated other yachts in the meantime but my race is over. There is an on-going investigation into how it happened but there is no suggestion of any blame on my part.

“I’ve been down at our boat in the marina in Fahan doing bits and pieces but I haven’t been out on the water again yet. The experience certainly won’t stop me sailing and I hope to be involved in the race again next year.”

In the meantime Richie has been in action for Inishowen Rugby and he played at centre in the 1st XV’s defeat to Dromore at the weekend.

“That was my first game back so my fitness could be better but it was good to get back into it and I hope to play regularly when I return from a skiing holiday next week.”