Hello from Spirit of Canada

Busy 2013 and 2014 Training Season Ahead

The Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges team has had a busy winter season marketing the new training and racing programs; attending boat shows, conducting presentations and preparing the two ocean racers for the upcoming busy offshore training season. The Open 60 Spirit of Canada will soon be launched from its in-ground slip at East River Marine and tuned up for the first training run to Bermuda. The Volvo 60 Amer Sports One is currently in Cartagena, Spain preparing for the Spain to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia transatlantic sail/delivery at the end of April. After arriving in Canada, the Volvo 60 will go through a minor refit before the summer training season.

The training sessions are not only a great way for Derek and the team to stay in shape but a great personal challenge for people just like you who want to experience an ocean passage in a safe, reliable and trusted offshore sailboat. This truly is a world-class adventure with world-class skippers aboard podium finishing boats.

Something like a holiday where you leave with more than you came with.

Each adventure will have room for about 8 sailors, Derek and another round the world skipper; will guide crew through the workings of the two grand prix offshore sailboats. The first training session this summer is scheduled from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to Bermuda departing on June 14th. The second training session departs Bermuda for Lunenburg on the 22nd of June, each run taking about four days with an onshore training session prior to each departure. We still have spots available for each of these training dates.

For a full list of dates and availability please contact us at sail@spiritofcanada.net or call us at 902.529.2626.

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges offshore training program continues to develop with the addition of RYA sailing courses and the introduction of Safety at Sea Seminars at the beginning of each offshore session. The Safety at Sea seminars will provide participants an opportunity to experience first-hand safety procedures involving life rafts and critical safety gear required for ocean passages.

Happy Sailing,

Derek

“Sailing one of these boats offshore is not like a cruise or charter, it’s not particularly fun or relaxing; it is however and experience in team work & adventure that you will never forget.”

The Volvo 60 Amer Sports One to join the 2014 Caribbean Winter Circuit

The Caribbean regattas offer the perfect combination of competition, enjoyment and international flare to a very long winter.

The year starts for us with the 6th edition of the Caribbean 600; this is the first offshore race to circumnavigate the Caribbean Islands; it runs from February 24th. The Caribbean 600 is a world-class endurance race and is not easy lasting for about 3 days sailors need commitment and enthusiasm to do well. During the course of the training and the race itself participants will develop and use sailing and communication skills and will find the campaign a personal challenge, but also immensely satisfying when completed. Ocean Challenges aims to make sure that everyone has fun, stays safe and enjoys the challenge.
Starting just off Fort Charlotte, just outside English Harbor in Antigua, the fleet will head north; pass marks off Barbuda, Nevis, Saba and St Barth’s before circling St Maarten and head south for Guadeloupe. Finally heading back north to a mark off Barbuda, returning to Antigua for the finish; 10 legs and 600 Nautical Miles of racing in fantastic trade wind conditions with spectacular scenery. The turquoise sea and trade winds produces exhilarating sailing conditions and whales, dolphins and turtles are a common sight. By night, sailors will race in warm Caribbean breezes under a carpet of stars, seldom seen with such clarity make this event one of the most popular offshore races in the world. All should expect to race around the course in a brisk breeze and warm seas. The racecourse around the Caribbean is the ultimate sailor’s playground.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

The 2014 Heineken Regatta is the 34th edition of the race. This international event plays host to more than 32 countries and close to 200 entries, making it the largest regatta in the Region! What could be better than racing in the Tropical sun with crystal clear water and ice cold Heinekens? Nothing!

Over the years thousand of sailor have graced the shore of this ideal location, don’t be left out in the cold from some of the best sailing in the Caribbean.

Voile de St. Barth April 7-12th

The 5th edition of this very competitive event starts with boat arrivals and crew parties on the 7th of April, 2014. Racing commences on the 9th and 10th with a crew party after the 2nd day of racing then a well deserved “day off” at the St. Jean Beach on the 11th. Two more days of racing then a spectacular light and sound show then awards and big end of regatta party.

Antigua Sailing Week April 26-May 2nd

Hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club this is a bucket list event for all sailors.
During the last week of April each year, yachts from all over the world arrive in English and Falmouth Harbours to participate in one of the world’s premier sailing events, Antigua Sailing Week. From small beginnings this regatta has developed over 45 years to become one of the preeminent yacht racing events in the Caribbean. Its international status ensures its ongoing fame worldwide. Over 100 yachts participate each year, ranging in size from 24 to over 100 feet. The Regatta attracts serious racing boats including state-of-the-art, high-tech racing machines, along with a variety of performance cruising and cruising boats.
The sight of all these yachts, both from vantage points on the shore and from spectator boats carrying onlookers alongside the races, is unforgettable. The reputation of Antigua Sailing Week allows the event to attract some of the world’s top racing yachts including in 2012 Geoff Hill’s Santa Cruz 72 Antipodes, Jan Rupert’s Tripp 75 Blackbird, Stefan Lehnert’s 56-foot Passion 4 C and, once again, Peter Harrison’s 115-foot Sojana.

For five days crews are challenged with a variety of coastal race courses encouraging tacking duels around the buoys – all set on the deep blue Caribbean Sea with the ever-present trade winds. It’s a picture perfect setting that is enhanced as the evening colours brighten the western sky and the sunburnt, salt-encrusted, weary sailors make their way to the bbq, steel bands and rum punches. While hundreds of locals and visitors carry on partying well into the evening, many of the yacht crews know there is another day of racing out there and so they leave the late night revelry for the others to finish.

After the week of ever-exciting racing, Antigua Sailing Week draws to a close in the romantic historic Nelson’s Dockyard with the final awards presentation attended by Antigua’s government representatives alongside the owners and skippers of the yachts with their crews, friends, well-wishers and race officials.

This exciting event is followed the next day by the Beating of the Retreat in historic Nelson’s Dockyard as the Antiguan flag is lowered to signal the close of Antigua Sailing Week for yet another year. It is a truly fitting end to a week of glorious racing.

2014 Summer Offshore Training Schedule
May 15th Antigua – Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
May 31st Lunenburg, NS – Bermuda
June 8th Bermuda – Lunenburg, NS
July Route Halifax – St. Pierre Ocean Race
July St. Pierre, FR – Lunenburg, NS
October Lunenburg, NS – Canary Islands

For more information on what we offer please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 902.529.2626 or via email at sail@spiritofcanada.net

Copyright © 2013 SPIRIT OF CANADA OCEAN CHALLENGES, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
PO BOX 204 MAHONE BAY, NS. B0J2E0

TEL 902 529 2626