Ireland is running pretty short on heroes at the moment, with the economy in tatters and a cabal of wealthy conmen running for cover. Heroes are unlikely to be found in the Dáil, or the banks, or big business, and so we turn to sport.

On Saturday, one of Ireland’s marine heroes was recognised by his sporting community, but true to form, he was off doing battle with other men and Mother Nature, and could only connect via satellite.

Damian Foxall, currently mid-Pacific as watch leader on Ireland’s Green Dragon entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, was crowned Ireland’s Sailor of the Year, announced live on Tom MacSweeney’s Seascapes radio programme. Foxall, 39, was recognised as sailor of the month in February for his win in the Barcelona World Race, a non-stop round-the-world yacht race starting and ending in Barcelona. The Kerryman paired with French sailor Jean-Pierre Dick for the race, a 24,679 mile endurance test which they completed, unaided, in 92 days, 8 hours, 49 minutes and 49 seconds.

Foxall is the quintissential quiet man, appearing every now and then to meekly accept an accolade, before disappearing to silently do great things, the likes of which others only dream. He’s softly spoken, every word carrying authority, and larger in his presence than in his actual frame, which is surprisingly diminutive.

He started his offshore career with appearances in the famous Figaro race, the offshore sailing world’s sprint circuit, and progressed from there to bigger and better things, taking in a host of round-the-world races and speed record attempts. Offshore sailing, and solo sailing in particular, breeds a particular type of individual due to the stresses and strains it exerts. Racing a high-performance yacht over long distances is tough enough for a full team, but when you’re on your own sleep deprivation is heightened, and responsibility for all the navigation, the decision-making of the skipper and the brute force usually supplied by grinders rests on your own shoulders.

Foxall bears it with a simple shrug.

While not the skipper on board Ireland’s Green Dragon, Foxall is watch leader, and part of what sailors call the ‘afterguard’, the group of key decision-makers on the boat, akin to the generals in times of war. But unlike portly generals, you’ll see Foxall at the front line regularly. As someone who’s used to doing all the work himself, Foxall leads by example, and mucks in to the toughest work like an enthusiastic junior recruit.

I’ll not go on. I was lucky enough to sail with Foxall and the Green Dragon crew from Galway to Cork earlier in the year – the resulting article for the Sunday Business Post is here. Congratulations, Damian.

Markham is a freelance journalist and contributing editor with Afloat Magazine, Ireland’s Sailing and Motorboating Magazine.

Sunday Business Post, August 17, 2008

Preparing for a 39,000-mile yacht race is a matter of meticulous checking and rechecking before anyone even goes on the water. Lists are made and everything gets investigated two or three times. The boat, the rigging, the crew list and sail choices are all pored over for potential flaws. Everything is tested and retested.

It’s July 31 and Ireland’s Green Dragon ocean racing team are off the coast of Kerry testing their sails one by one. In October, they leave Spain for a sprint around the world by sea, crossing all of the world’s major oceans and stopping in ten ports, including Galway, on the way.

Having passed the Skelligs in thick drizzle, it becomes clear that someone has already screwed up the preparations. ‘‘Tofu? Who the hell thought tofu would be a good idea? Who eats tofu?’’ All the kinks get worked out during training, and the menu is no exception. read more »