"SOMEBODY, somewhere, must have been praying for me," said Mr Pat Lawless (70), the Limerick grandfather of nine, after he sailed into Kilrush Creek Marina, Co Clare, yesterday morning.
He had just sailed single handed around the world via Portugal, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Equador, Panama, the Caymen Islands and Florida in his 30 foot ketch, Seadog.
He had covered 30,000 miles in three years and one day, encountering storms and near disaster. It was his third attempt to circumnavigate the globe and his fifth crossing of the Atlantic. The other two attempts almost ended in disaster and the loss of his first boat.
His present boat was given to him by his neighbour, Mr Tony O'Meara, who was there to meet him on his arrival.
A flotilla of boats some with sirens blaring, gave the sailor a hero's welcome and escorted him in from the Shannon Estuary. First to meet him was his wife, Nancy.
For Mr Sean Dunleavy, chairman of the Kilrush UDC, who acts as harbour master, it was a day to honour a small bet.
He walked up to Mr Lawless and handed him a £10 note "I told you when you were leaving here three years ago that if you ever got back I would give you a tenner. "Ireland has just got two gold medals and this is surely the third for achievement on the water."
Also in the reception party were his daughter and five sons and grandchildren. His youngest son, Peter (28), a hotel manager in Bahrain, flew in for the reunion.
The Mayor of Limerick, Mr Kieran O'Hanlon, who has the ancient title of Admiral of the Shannon, said "By your bravery you are an inspiration and example for so many today."
Mr Lawless replied "You have all given me a great reception. Thank you for your support. I have seen beautiful places and met wonderful people, but it was most beautiful to see the green of the country again when dawn came up over Loop Head."
He had anchored offshore over night and entered the marina at 10 a.m., escorted by the River Shannon pilot boat under Coxswain Martin Brennan, and lashed to his friend Mr Edgar Heenan's boat, Annabelle, when his engine had gone on the "blink".