Irish Sailor Completes Solo Atlantic Crossing in Low-Tech Race

An Irish woman has reached land after sailing across the Atlantic solo as part of a “low-technology” race.

At around 6pm, Dubliner Gráinne Costigan finished the Mini transat 2025 competition, which took her from France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean via the Canary Islands, her mother Gerardine Costigan confirmed.

As she approached land, gráinne celebrated by dancing a jig inside her boat.

Gráinne Costigan is the first Irish woman to complete the crossing in the Mini Transat 6.5, a race sailed in 6.5-meter boats.

However, sheS hesitant to definitively claim the title of first Irish woman to solo the Atlantic, as historical records aren’t entirely clear, explained her sister Meadhbh Costigan.

“I’m delighted she is in, it’s something she has always wanted to do,” her mother said.

“I had great faith in her; it’s a great achievement.”

The competition, established in 1977, attracts nearly 100 participants who race across the atlantic Ocean on small sailboats with limited technology.

During the race, Costigan had no contact with the outside world.

“She has to do all her own meteorology and navigation herself,” her sister said. “It’s a low-technology race designed to lower the barrier to entry. They receive one weather broadcast a day and must use that details for navigation. They rely on observing the horizon for cloud formations – it’s quite old school.”

Costigan grew up in a sailing family on the coast in Sutton, Co Dublin.