The best time is now
Sailing Today - May '25
Cover Story-Full Feature
South Sea Tales​
The last months spent in French Polynesia the crew of SV Polaris explored the beautiful leeward society islands. There they found the perfect mix of remote coral atolls and more developed mountainous islands including Bora Bora. While food supplies were scarce at times the generosity and kindness they encountered saved the day and their faith in humans.
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The Irish Times
Waste Colonialism Feature
Published in I.T Weekend Supplement-8th February 2025
Kate investigates where Ireland's plastic packaging waste may really end up when such a large proportion is exported and then often re-exported. 'The plastic crisis is more about overproduction than waste management. While interventions to control the flow of plastic waste are necessary, they only deal with the problem after it is too late and the plastic is already in the world.
The deluge of plastics being heaped upon Indonesia surely constitutes a crime against humanity, enacted by the producers of fossil fuels and plastics and the governments who facilitate them.
The problems this creates will affect us all and, as consumers, we need to hold brands accountable for packaging products in sustainable material, suitable for the market in which it is sold'.
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The Irish Times
25th December 2024
This article first appeared in The Irish Times on the 25th December 2024.
En route west across the Pacific ocean Kate, her captain and their yacht, Polaris stop off at a tiny coral atoll called Mauipha'a. There they are met by two curious residents who take the sailors under their wing, teaching them survival tactics in one of the most remote places on earth.
It is a profoundly moving experience for this writer.
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The Pat Kenny Show
Newstalk FM
24th May 2024
Kate discusses the the full time liveaboard blue water cruising lifestyle with radio talk show host Pat Kenny on Ireland's most listened to commercial radio show.
From the realities of maintaining the boat, coral bleaching and long ocean passages across the pacific to the magic of wildlife encounters with sharks, dolphins, whales and manta rays.
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The Irish Times
2nd May 2024
This article first appeared in The Irish Times on the 2nd of May 2024.
IKate reflects on the importance of travelling home during her circumnavigation. But it is also there and only there that she notices the ways in which she has altered as a result of her sailing adventure.
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The Irish Times
11th December 2023
This article first appeared in The Irish Times online on the 11th of December.
A tale of arriving in Australia after sailing there and of alternative Christmases spent onboard Polaris as Kate and her skipper/partner continue on their quest to sail around the world.
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The Irish Times
18th September 2023
This article first appeared in The Irish Times online on the 18th of September 2023. It was trending as the number one most-read article for 24 hours.
Aimed at a mainstream audience Kate discusses how she and her partner came to be halfway through their first circumnavigation.
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Multihull Power & Sail Magazine by Sail Magazine Winter '23
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Full Feature:
Highs and Lows- A Pacific Passage
A salty tale of Kate and Jim's longest ocean passage yet, eighteen days and nights from Galapagos to French Polynesia.
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Yachting World- July '24
Cover Story Full Feature:
Ring of Fire-Passage from Fiji to Australia
An exciting cover story of what the passages from Fiji to Australia were like. Kate's most challenging passage ever, a volcano, a rescue mission and trying to out run a category five cyclone.
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Click on magazine to view article
Yachting World- May '23
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Cover Story Full Feature:
Your Pacific Plan
Kate's detailed guide and look at what it takes to prepare and complete a trans-pacific passage by reflecting on her own experience. She discusses key considerations in making the decision to leave and route options, the reality of the passages, arrival and what life has really been like in French Polynesia for the last year onboard SV Polaris.
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Yachting World- Jan '23
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Full Feature:
Making The Switch- Novice to Liveaboard
Kate writes about becoming a full-time bluewater liveaboard. From her very first day sail to those solo night watches, she discusses the key areas of competency she began to develop including learning to sail a catamaran with her partner, provisioning and the real demands of boat maintenance. She recounts her first sailing season in the Mediterranean from the vantage point of having since crossed two oceans and being halfway through a global circumnavigation.
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Sailing Today- Dec '23
Full Feature:
Oceans Apart-
A Textbook Transatlantic Trip
Crossing an ocean for the first time is a daunting prospect and in this article Kate shares what it was really like. It was this first ocean passage, according to the author, that confirmed her love of sailing and firm resolve to keep going around the world with her partner onboard their catamaran, Polaris.
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Sailing Today- July '24
Cover Story-Full Feature:
Two Years in the Caribbean and Essential Ocean Cruising Kit
Reflections of two years cruising the caribbean: crossing the Atlantic reaching the Caribbean, two hurricane seasons, lots of upgrades and the essentials for crossing oceans.
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Sailing Today- Oct '23
Cover Story Full Feature:
Sell Up and Sail
Kate reflects on what is has been like to go from complete sailing novice to becoming a full-time liveaboard and trans-ocean sailor en-route to completing her first circumnavigation. In it, she details the reality of her chosen lifestyle, the sacrifices involved and the steep learning curve but above all how richly rewarding it is.
Sailing Today- May '23
Full Feature:
Choosing Your Cat
Kate writes about the very first stage of the journey: deciding to buy a boat and then all the steps to ensure the right boat is selected for a planned circumnavigation. In it, she explains the criteria she and partner Jim used including comfort and seaworthiness for a circumnavigation.
