Cruising Group Winter Talks: Tales from a Transatlantic Race

08 January 2026
Cruising Group Winter Talks: Tales from a Transatlantic Race
 
Join us on Tuesday 3rd February for an unmissable HYC Cruising Group Talk entitled Tales from a Transatlantic Race, featuring the adventures and experiences of solo Atlantic racers Gráinne Costigan and Mark O’Connor.
 
Gráinne, a Sutton-born sailor and data scientist, recently made headlines as she completed the grueling Mini Transat 6.50 solo crossing from France to Guadeloupe aboard her 21-ft boat Sea Fever, navigating the atlantic with nothing more than daily weather calls, charts and sheer grit — and in doing so has become a pioneering Irish woman in the sport. 
 
Mark O’Connor, an electronic engineer-turned-professional sailor from Dublin now training in France, has also etched his name in the solo sailing sphere with a dramatic solo Atlantic crossing in the Maxi-Mini Skippy, finishing ahead of stiff competition after 17 days alone at sea, and has consistently pushed up the rankings in the competitive Mini Transat fleet. 
 
Their inspiring stories of resilience, seamanship and adventure promise to make this talk a highlight of the HYC Cruising Group winter talks season. 
 
 
Asgard Room - Tuesday 3rd February 2026 - 7.30PM
 
All welcome - no booking necessary, but guests must be signed in.