As he sets out on a solo round the world trip, sailor Enda O’Coineen describes the feeling as "magic".
The 60-year-old Galway man was among 29 single-handers who left the French port of Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday for the Vendee Globe race.
However, the challenge for O’Coineen is to finish the gruelling marathon and placings are not on his agenda.
In his class Imoca monohull, Kilcullen Voyager, O’Coineen is the first Irish man to take part in the race, which has been described as the “Everest of sailing”.
“This is magic,” the former Secret Millionaire said as he prepared to cast off.
“This is the end of the beginning and to be here is magic and I’m really looking forward to it. The support has been fabulous.”
