"Never a backward glance," he had said, and so they are back on course again. Since four members of the Coveney family from Cork returned to their 51ft ketch Golden Apple after their father's death in March, their passage plan hasn't faltered.
This morning they leave Fiji for the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu.
With them for this 580-mile leg of the Sail Chernobyl global circumnavigation is their mother, Pauline, and the youngest sibling, David. Mrs Coveney had made no secret before she left of her apprehension about the trip.
It wasn't so much the sea journey. There is something about wooden boats that sets them apart from synthetic counterparts. Not just the quality craftwork with seasoned materials, the smooth hull lines whispering through the water, the sympathy of that pliable material with a restless sea.
Wood can also reflect the character of its owner - his very presence - in a way that futuristic fibreglass or titanium never can.
Skipper since rejoining Goldie, as they know it, is Rory Coveney. He has taken over from his older brother, Simon, who has a degree in farm management and has stayed back to run the family farm.
While they were all at home after their father's death, friends took the vessel from the Galapagos islands to Tahiti. Four of the original five - Rory, twins Andrew and Tony, and Rebecca - then flew out to Tahiti on May 8th and set sail after a week.
"We've done 3,000 miles since then, and apart from a few squally nights the weather conditions have generally been very good," Rory Coveney told The Irish Times by satellite telephone from the vessel. "We didn't spend too long in French Polynesia."
They stayed for five days in Bora-Bora on the westward route to the Cook islands, where they visited Rarotonga. "It was fairly rough there, though, so we only berthed for 12 hours in the harbour and then set sail again."
Fiji, where they were due to meet their mother and younger brother, marked their first real break. They put into port in the western Yasawa islands, bringing with them vital port dues, kava or root juice wrapped in raw tobacco for the local boss.
They have spent almost a fortnight now in the 300-island republic, which ranges from tiny atolls and coral reefs to volcanic mountainous areas, and which holds the world record for crimes of passion. Almost half of the population of 758,000 is Methodist, with 40 per cent Hindu and 8 per cent Muslim.
The next leg is expected to be "quite windy", according to the skipper, who is responsible for all discipline on board, including 60second showers (timed by stopwatch, with a few extra seconds for Rebecca because of her longer hair). The atmosphere is now obviously very different.
"Simon was such a huge part of the crew that it is very strange to come back without him," Rory notes.
The addition of a satellite phone has also stripped away some of the adventure, although the vessel has always had an email link. "We still aren't used to the phone, except when it rings. But it is invaluable in terms of organisation."
The vessel has aroused "fantastic interest" in the Pacific islands, he says. When they had left it in the Galapagos - a forlorn and lonely hull, seen through the aeroplane window - they were doubtful of returning. But the Sail Chernobyl pennant was unfurled: someone knew they would be back.
"With so much time on our hands, we are thinking about Dad constantly," Rory admits. Ironically, the four Coveneys are not only fulfilling their father's wish by continuing with the voyage to raise money for the Chernobyl Children's Project: they are also serving another man's dream.
When the teak ketch was built in 1980 in Crosshaven, Co Cork, the original owner wanted to sail around the world. Sadly, he died before being able to do so.
The Sail Chernobyl project has a website at http://aardvarkipl.com/ccp/sail-chernobyl on the Internet. The Government has given a £100,000 contribution to the project, and donations can be made to AIB Bank, South Mall, Cork, account number 11100050.