DATE OF BIRTH: 27 April 1987
HOMEPORT: Concarneau
PROFESSION: Skipper
BOAT: Smurfit Kappa - Kingspan
Tom Dolan has always had one idea in mind: to conquer the oceans!
It's not easy, however, when you grow up in a rural Ireland, and in a country where the most popular sports are Gaelic football, VX rugby, or hurling, to make such an ambition happen. Fear of failure, fear of what others might say and self-doubt could have let everyday life get in the way of this audacious plan , but the man nicknamed "The Flying Irishman" always believed he could realise his dream. The path to realise his dream has sometimes been complicated and full of pitfalls, but Tom has never given up, well aware that anything is possible to those who dare, work and never give up.
He first went to the Les Glénans before coming to France, and more precisely to Brittany. Tom made his debut in the Mini 6.50 before joining the Bénéteau Figaro professional sailing circuit in 2018.
This challenging circuit where Tom , after only three seasons, established himself among the best, notably taking a place in the Top 5 of the legendary Solitaire du Figaro and, achieving the best Irish performance of all time on the race, but also the best result of a non-French skipper since Dominique Wavre of Switzerland in 1997!
Today, Tom's ambition is to repeat his performance in 2023 in the Solitaire du Figaro and to take part in Vendée Globe, certain that no dream is too big to achieve!
Crédit photo : JB D'Enquin
