Hello from Spirit of Canada

The summer months are flying by as we continue with our offshore training sessions and preparations for the Velux 5 Oceans this October. I now have almost 10,000 nm and six training sessions on Spirit of Canada ECO 60 and I am very impressed with the performance of the boat. As you can imagine, sailing with 3 or 4 other sailors on a boat designed to accommodate one person has created some interesting scenarios but I will keep those stories for the book. Each session has taught me valuable lessons about the performance of the boat and how it can be pushed. I feel very confident about our preparations at this point.

One of the training sessions was as a race participant in the Route Halifax St. Pierre Ocean Race; we covered the 340 odd miles in under 30 hours; setting a new race record and receiving line honours for the effort. The race was not without event as we struck a log while sailing at about 12 knots and did some minor damage to the keel fairings. The boat is slated for repairs and will be hauled out next week at East River Marine here in Nova Scotia where Philip Young and his professional boatbuilding and repair crew will bring the boat back to racing trim.

The title sponsorship hunt has proven to be daunting and even though we continue to put names on the hull and conduct training sessions thereby reducing the price of the title sponsorship, we have not been able to secure that elusive support. The budget situation is becoming critical as we need to order new sails for delivery before the start. But we are staying focussed on the start line in October. Any suggestions and or referrals with regard to securing potential sponsors are very welcome.

Stay tuned for more regular updates as we approach the Velux 5 Oceans race start on October 17th 2010.

Take care,

Derek

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Derek Hatfield and Spirit of Canada

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Derek is the first to ever fly the Canadian flag as a competitor in the grueling Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. The VELUX 5 OCEANS will be Derek’s third race around the world and another first in Canadian sailing history.

Derek will compete in the VELUX 5 OCEANS in the Eco 60 class, a revolutionary fleet aimed at opening up ocean racing by making it more affordable as well as eco-friendly. The fleet, which will première in the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS, is for Open 60 yachts launched before 2003 and will be governed by a number of rules and regulations designed to limit costs and encourage positive environmental practices.

Key Partner

Spirit of Canada is still looking for a Key Partner to take advantage of this great marketing opportunity. The Key Partner will receive a return on investment of approx 25 million in EVA (equivalent advertising value). The cost of the Key Partnership is a small fraction of this amount. For more information on a Key Partnership or any other multi-faceted sponsorship opportunity with Spirit of Canada, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 647.288.7342

VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge

The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest single-handed round the world yacht race. Run every 4 years since 1982, the race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone. The VELUX 5 OCEANS will start in October 2010 and promises to reach a global audience as the dramatic stories are followed live across TV, radio, print, Internet and via mobile technology.

www.velux5oceans.com

For further information on Spirit of Canada, please contact Patianne Verburgh:
Office: +1.647.288.7342
Mobile: +1.902.529.2626
www.spiritofcanada.net
patianne@spiritofcanada.net

For further information on the VELUX 5 OCEANS, please contact Tim Kelly, Race Director of Communications:
T: + 44 7773 325 533
E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com
W: www.velux5oceans.com

Status Report 21st May, 2010

Hello from Spirit of Canada

The new Spirit of Canada ECO 60 is currently in Port la Foret, France preparing for it’s first transatlantic delivery. The ECO 60 will leave France around May 26th with a crew of 4 and head directly to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where it will start the transformation to the traditional Spirit of Canada colours and a summer of offshore training and support sailing.

It feels great to be back in sailing mode, I’m looking forward to many miles of training aboard Spirit of Canada in preparation for the Velux 5 Oceans starting this October. The boat is in great shape but we will be conducting a mini refit once we are in Canada to refine the systems. Later in August we will take the boat out of the water to apply a new Nautix white racing bottom. Once we are back in France in September, a new set of race sails will complete the preparations. At this point we are in great shape and I feel very confident with our preparations for my third single handed race around the world.

Stay tuned as we sail from France to Canada as regular updates will be posted from the crew.

Take care,

Derek

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Derek Hatfield and Spirit of Canada

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Derek is the first to ever fly the Canadian flag as a competitor in the grueling Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. The VELUX 5 OCEANS will be Derek’s third race around the world and another first in Canadian sailing history.

Derek will compete in the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010 Eco 60 class, a revolutionary fleet aimed at opening up ocean racing by making it more affordable as well as eco-friendly. The fleet, which will première in the 2010 VELUX 5 OCEANS, is for Open 60 yachts launched prior to 2003 and is governed by a number of rules and regulations designed to limit costs and encourage positive environmental practices.

Key Partner

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges is looking for a Key Partner to take advantage of this great marketing opportunity. The Key Partner will receive a return on investment of approx 25 million in EVA (equivalent advertising value). The cost of the Key Partnership is a small percentage of this amount. For more information on a Key Partnership or any other multi-faceted sponsorship opportunity with Spirit of Canada, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 647.288.7342 or 902.529.2626.

VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge

The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the oldest single-handed round the world yacht race. Run every 4 years since 1982, the race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone. The VELUX 5 OCEANS will start in October 2010 and promises to reach a global audience as the dramatic stories are followed live across TV, radio, print, Internet and via mobile technology.

www.velux5oceans.com

For further information on Spirit of Canada, please contact Patianne Verburgh:
Office: +1.647.288.7342
Mobile: +1.902.529.2626
www.spiritofcanada.net
patianne@spiritofcanada.net

For further information on the VELUX 5 OCEANS, please contact Tim Kelly, Race Director of Communications:
T: + 44 7773 325 533
E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com
W: www.velux5oceans.com

The challenge begins 2010, www.velux5oceans.com

Since 1996 the Spirit of Canada team has been putting the names of those individuals who have supported Spirit of Canada on the hulls of both Spirit of Canada open sailboats. These “crew members” have either contributed financial or in-kind support or their valuable time. The first Spirit of Canada was an Open 40, built by volunteers for the Around Alone 2002 and carried over 3000 names around the world on her hull. This grassroots fundraising campaign became known as “AroundTogether”. From 2003 to the start of the Vendee Globe in November 2008, another 5700 crew member names were placed on the hull of the Open 60 Spirit of Canada; this time in reflective safety tape to provide improved visibility at night.

A scan of the AroundTogether crew members listed on the Spirit of Canada website reveals a never ending list of people including: individuals (some famous), children, competitors, family members and even boat and pet names that were added by their owners. To say the least, this grass roots campaign has been an overwhelming success and it is the reason Spirit of Canada has been able to compete in two around the world races as it has provided Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges with the seed funding it required to succeed.

Spirit of Canada is grateful to those that have contributed. Derek has commented numerous times that it is the motivational support from those names on the hull that has kept him going when the times are tough. He is also quoted that “it was the risk of disappointing those supporters that kept him from giving up”.

The tradition continues with the new Spirit of Canada ECO 60. For the VELUX 5 Oceans starting in October 2010, the 5700 names that were on the Open 60 for the Vendee Globe will be transferred to the new ECO 60 so that their trip around the world will continue.  We are encouraging those supporters to contribute again and to show appreciation for their continued support, each crew member will receive a free copy of the Spirit of Canada story “Never Give Up!” currently being written.

Please encourage other individuals and companies to put their name on the hull as the goal remains 10,000 names to go around the world in 2010. Each contribution will receive a piece of Spirit of Canada clothing to reflect their generous contribution.

To put your name on the hull, please go to: http://spiritofcanada.net/wordpress2/donate/

Mailing Address

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges

PO Box 39506, Lakeshore Cawthra RPO

Mississauga, Ontario, L5G 4S6

For more information, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 647.288.7342

Or visit www.spiritofcanada.net

Contribute to Spirit of Canada : Here

Send a message to Derek : Here

For Immediate Release: 24th September 2009
Rights-free race images available to download in high-resolution from http://press.velux5oceans.com/
Interviews and video footage available on request from the communications team

Spirit of Canada Announces Next Around the World Race
Derek Hatfield confirmed as first entry in 9-strong Eco 60 fleet for the VELUX 5 OCEANS

Canadian offshore racer Derek Hatfield today announced Spirit of Canada’s’ next single-handed challenge around the world will be the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11. Considered The Ultimate Solo Challenge since the race was first organised in 1982, the eighth edition of this classic event will start in La Rochelle (France) on October 17th 2010. A fleet of Open 60s will take on five gruelling ocean sprints as the solo sailors circumnavigate the planet around the three great Capes.

Hatfield has unfinished business following his forced retirement from the Vendée Globe 2008 and returns to the event which launched his career in single-handed sailing. The Canadian adventurer is the first skipper to be officially announced for the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11.

Commenting on the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11, Derek concluded, “I am very excited about the VELUX 5 OCEANS as it is a race that I know well; we had a very positive result in this race in 2002 when I competed in the 40 foot Class. This will be our third single-handed race around the world after the Around Alone 2002 and the Vendée Globe 2008 and we are looking to be very competitive on the water. We will be competing in the Eco 60 Class as it embodies our core values with regard to the environment and education. The Spirit of Canada Eco 60 will carry the colours of Canada and our supporters around the world once again.”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of the race organiser Clipper Ventures, commented, “It is excellent news that Derek Hatfield is returning to the VELUX 5 OCEANS in 2010. With over a year to go, we have nine confirmed entries in our promising Eco 60 Class, three quarters of the way to our target of twelve boats racing across five very different ocean sprints. We will announce further entries throughout 2009 and we are shaping up to have a truly diverse cross section of nationalities and personalities. The Eco 60 Class, designed for Open 60s launched before January 2003, has proved extremely popular with sponsors and skippers given the prevailing global trends for reducing cost and embracing sustainability.”

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and is the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Competing in the Open 40 Spirit of Canada, he finished first in his fleet and in 3rd place overall in Class II in the 2002-03 Around Alone race, despite a life threatening and catastrophic capsize near Cape Horn.

Between 2003 and 2006, Derek and the Spirit of Canada team went on to build the first IMOCA 60 in Canada. In May 2006, the IMOCA 60 Spirit of Canada was launched in Cobourg, Ontario after 22,000 man-hours. Derek had hoped to compete in the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2006-07, but ultimately decided he did not have sufficient time to prepare the new IMOCA 60 for the seventh edition of The Ultimate Solo Challenge that departed Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain) and featured three long offshore legs.

In 2008, Derek led the first Canadian team to compete in the Vendée Globe single-handed race around the world, without stops and unassisted. Of the 30 competing skippers, only 11 finished the gruelling race. After 50 days of racing and deep in the Southern Ocean, Derek and his 60 foot sailboat were rolled upside down and sustained mast damage. Unable to make repairs himself, Derek was forced to retire from the race.

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges is a team of sailing and marketing professionals that are currently preparing to compete on the world sailing stage for a third time in the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Announcements on the choice of Eco 60 boat will be made in the coming months following purchase negotiations.

For further information on the VELUX 5 OCEANS, please contact Tim Kelly, Race Director of Communications:
T: + 44 7773 325 533
E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com
W: www.velux5oceans.com

For further information on Derek Hatfield or to support Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges, please contact Patianne Verburgh:
T: + 1 416 816 7446
E: patianne@spiritofcanada.net
W: www.spiritofcanada.net

NOTES TO EDITORS

VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge

The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the original single-handed round the world yacht race. Run every 4 years since 1982, the race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of high-pressure sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone. The next VELUX 5 OCEANS will take place 2010-2011 and promises to reach a global audience as the dramatic stories are followed live across TV, radio, print, Internet and via mobile technology.

www.velux5oceans.com

About The VELUX Group
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www.velux.com