Persons

Peter Lawless: Irish Solo Circumnavigator

Peter Lawless is an Irish sailor known for his 2021 attempt to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation aboard his Rival 41 yacht. His planned route would have taken him south through the Atlantic, past the Cape of Good Hope, across the Southern Ocean below Australia and New Zealand, around Cape Horn, and back into the Atlantic, with the expectation that the voyage would take several months. However, the attempt came to an early end due to serious steering damage and the time required for repairs. In this article we outline how he prepared for the voyage and what ultimately prevented him from completing it.

Contents

The Voyage

Peter Lawless first announced his intention to attempt a solo, non-stop circumnavigation in 2020, outlining his plan to follow the traditional southern route below the Great Capes. After more than a year of preparation, he departed from Kilrush, County Clare, on 21 August 2021 aboard his Rival 41 yacht, Waxwing.

Peter ready to sail solo around the world

Peter ready to sail solo around the world

The Irish sailor documented preparation and early stages of the voyage through social media. He shared short notes, photos and videos explaining repairs, equipment choices and lessons learned. PredictWind provided live position updates when satellite signal allowed, showing Waxwing’s location, course and speed. This gave followers a clear view of how the attempt progressed up to the point where he stopped the circumnavigation.

For navigation, Lawless used a combination of paper charts, a sextant and electronic systems. One of his father’s old charts travelled with him as a personal reminder, while modern tools provided weather data and satellite communication.

Introduction Peter Lawless to Sailing channel

The project received support from individuals, local businesses and donors through platforms such as GoFundMe and Patreon. Funds were used for equipment, refit work and communication gear. Some suppliers contributed discounted or donated items, particularly in the areas of safety, navigation and power management.

What Went Wrong

A few weeks into the voyage, Lawless’ yacht suffered serious steering damage while passing the coast of Portugal. The Irish sailor diverted to a nearby port to assess the problem and carry out emergency repairs. Once the system was stabilised, he continued south, but further inspection revealed that the steering linkage required additional work that could not be completed quickly at sea.

Yacht repairs in the canary islands

He then sailed to Tenerife for a more substantial repair. The work involved sourcing replacement parts and rebuilding elements of the steering mechanism, which resulted in a significant delay. By the time the repairs were completed, the safe seasonal window for entering the Southern Ocean had already passed.

Because a non-stop circumnavigation depends heavily on timing and weather patterns, Lawless announced that he would end the attempt rather than continue under unsafe conditions. After completing the repairs, he did not resume the circumnavigation route and eventually returned home, bringing the 2021 attempt to a close.

The Boat: SV Waxwing

Waxwing is a Rival 41, a British-built long-keel yacht known for offshore capability. Before departure, Lawless refitted many parts of the boat.

Peter’s yacht, a Rival 41

Peter’s yacht, a Rival 41, has circumnavigated the world twice with previous owners

This included:

  • checking and servicing the rig
  • adding solar panels
  • organising mechanical spares
  • replacing worn components
  • improving cockpit protection
  • updating communication equipment

He also carried out sea trials along the Irish coast to test equipment and confirm handling in stronger conditions. A satellite tracker was installed so the public could see regular position reports.

What Peter Lawless Is Doing Today

Peter Lawless continues to sail actively, although he has not announced any plans to repeat his 2021 solo non-stop circumnavigation attempt. There is no public information confirming whether a second attempt is being prepared.

New years on boat

Today he regularly sails around the coasts of Ireland, Spain and Portugal, sharing short updates from his passages. His recent activity includes single-handed trips between ports such as Cascais, Portimão and Seixal, as well as coastal sailing and anchoring around the Algarve. He also spends time maintaining and upgrading his Rival 41, Waxwing — including engine work, cleaning, and general upkeep — which he documents through his videos.

Lawless remains very active online. He posts frequent updates across his social media accounts and continues to upload new sailing videos on his YouTube channel. His posts usually show day-to-day sailing, maintenance jobs, short delivery trips, and quiet moments at anchor.

Although his long-distance plans are unclear, his current activity shows that he is still sailing regularly, keeping Waxwing in use, and sharing much of his routine on the water with his followers.