Enda O’Coineen set out from France alongside New Zealander Conrad Coleman on 6 November in the Vendee Globe sailing race, a solo, non-stop race around the planet. On New Years Day disaster struck when a 35 knot squall caught Enda off guard and the mast on his IMOCA 60, Kilcullen Voyager, came tumbling down 180 nautical miles south of New Zealand.