Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges today announced that a number of training sessions with Derek Hatfield on the ECO 60 Spirit of Canada will be offered to individuals during the summer of 2011. Fresh from the VELUX 5 Oceans Singlehanded around the world race Derek needs to stay in good shape and keep the boat working and he has set a rigorous training schedule for future solo racing events. Individuals will be able to experience a full blown Open 60 first hand in open ocean conditions during five days of adventure sailing between Halifax and Bermuda.

Individuals can expect to learn about aspects of preparing for shorthanded cruising and racing including the setup of the boat and deck layout, nutrition, sleep patterns, weather analysis, safety at sea, shorthanded sail selection, medical emergency procedures, navigation and communications and is appropriate for individuals of all levels of sailing skills and experience. Participants will also be given special edition Spirit of Canada technical T-shirts and caps.

For further information regarding booking an offshore training session on Spirit of Canada, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at:
info@spiritofcanada.net or call 902-531-2532.

Full day and half day sailing sessions on the ECO 60 Spirit of Canada are also available in Halifax and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia contact us for more details.

Hello from Active House

Welcome to Canada! I’m exactly 98 miles from our house in Mahone Bay and I can almost smell the BBQ. Of course it’s cold and very foggy outside but I don’t mind, it’s just nice to be close. We will be sailing along the coast of Nova Scotia and then Newfoundland before heading out over the Grand Banks and across to France.

All is well on board and I am all set for the run across the Atlantic.

Take Care

Derek

Hello from Active House

It’s a beautiful warm spring day here on the North Atlantic, with bright and clear blue skies. It certainly feels like home is near as I am about 250 miles from the coast of Canada and I am tempted to turn left and visit home. The first few days of each leg are the most difficult ones. This leg was no exception with the first night full of thunder storms and squalls. At one point Active House was laid flat in monsoon rains and 45 knots of wind. All I could do was hand steer the boat sideways and hope that none of the rigging failed as the boat laid on it’s side and steadied itself. It has taken me until now on day three to dry out the boat and my clothing.

I completely missed my opportunity to utilize the gulf stream as I found myself too far east after the storms the first night. Now I have some ground to make up to get back to the front. I think being in port for the long stopovers is possibly the hardest part of this race as it takes two or three days at the beginning of each leg to get the racing motivation back. This leg was especially difficult as I’m leaving home once again and sailing away.

I was rewarded this morning by a visit from a family of dolphins; a mother and here young one put on a great display, swimming perfectly beside each other as if connected and even jumping out of the water three times just beside he boat. The young one seemed to have a big smile. My mood is always improved when the dolphins come by for a visit.

Take Care

Derek

North Atlantic to throw up surprises in last act of solo round the world race

IT is the final act, the last push, the grand finale. On Saturday the starting gun will sound and the four skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS will race out of Charleston, USA, in ocean sprint five, signalling the beginning of a dramatic climax to the 30,000-mile race.

What lies between the solo sailors and the finish line in La Rochelle, France, is 3,600 miles of full-on drag racing peppered with tactical decisions, constantly changing weather and no time to rest. With the first yacht expected to finish around 12 days after the start this leg truly is a sprint – but by no means will it be easy.

“The first challenge the ocean racers will come up against is the Gulf Stream,” said David Adams, VELUX 5 OCEANS race director. “The Gulf Stream is basically a conveyor belt of warm water that runs straight up along the coast of North America and out into the North Atlantic. It is made up of a whole lot of eddies, swirling pools of water, which the skippers will have to wind their way through as they head north. The skipper that best navigates the Gulf Stream will get a jump on the rest of the fleet.

“Once out of the Gulf Stream the skippers will follow the Great Circle route which will take them past Halifax and Newfoundland and then out into the Atlantic. They won’t be going high enough for ice to be a problem, so they will be able to concentrate their efforts fully on going as quickly as they can without having to worry about the dangers of ice.

“These guys have already taken on the Southern Ocean which is regarded as the most dangerous but the North Atlantic can be as brutal. Different to the Southern Ocean legs where there are prevailing winds, on ocean sprint five the skippers will have to deal with whatever the North Atlantic throws at them. It could be huge storms, or it could be a massive high pressure system that becalms them for days.

“The first problem they will have will be about four days into the leg with a northerly wind, against the Gulf Stream current, will create some pretty nasty seas. The skippers will need to make the decision whether they stay on the conveyor belt and take on the rough seas or whether they step off the conveyor belt into calmer seas but risk losing speed.”

Vital bonus points are once again on offer for the fastest boats through the sprint five speed gate set between 35° West and 20° West. But just to throw in one last twist, the race committee have ruled that the skippers must enter the gate south of 48° North – a big diversion from the shortest course.

“That will make for some very interesting racing and some tough decisions for the skippers,” race director David Adams added. “If the skippers choose to go for the speed gate points they will need to sail further, potentially surrendering their position in the fleet. However, they might choose to disregard the speed gate and sail the shortest route but that would mean not winning any bonus points which could prove vital in the final scoring. It is certainly going to add another element to racing.

“The mentality of this leg is also hugely different to the other sprints. This is the big finish, they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the end of a huge project which has drained them physically, mentally and financially. Having said that, disaster is always lurking just around the corner.

“On paper, Brad only has to finish this leg to win the whole event – but nature has a way of biting anyone who thinks like that on the backside. He’s got to decide whether he’s going to push for a clean sweep or whether he throttles back. Brad is also the only one leaving his home port to finish the race – Gutek and Chris are sailing home. Mentally that means a lot.

“Derek and Gutek are tied on points so they will be working harder than ever – for them, whoever wins this leg wins the race for second. They will need to hit the speed gate and work hard through it. Chris will be sat there waiting to pounce on anyone who makes a mistake. There is a lot to play for with a lot of implications!”

Ocean sprint five starts on Saturday May 14 at 1500 local time (1900 UTC).

-ENDS-

Contact:
Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges
Patianne Verburgh
+1.843.303.5443

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Active House
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Be a part of Active House’s vital work to promote environmentally friendly houses with a high livability standard. Join activehouse.info as a contributor today!

www.activehouse.info

VELUX 5 OCEANS – The Ultimate Solo Challenge
The VELUX 5 OCEANS is the Ultimate Solo Challenge, the ultimate human endeavour. More than 500 people have been into space – less than 180 have sailed round the world solo. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon 30,000-nautical mile circumnavigation. The race, run every four years since 1982, has a rich heritage which has given rise to some of the world’s best sailors. The VELUX 5 OCEANS is not only the longest round the world yacht race but at nearly 30 years old is also the longest running. Always at the forefront of ocean racing innovation, the 2010/11 VELUX 5 OCEANS will see the premiere of the Eco 60 class of yachts, pushing a message of sustainability, accessibility and affordability.

www.velux5oceans.com

About the VELUX Group
The VELUX Group holds the title sponsorship of VELUX 5 OCEANS for the second time. The spirit, values and nature of the race and its skippers are similar to those of the VELUX Group. As a manufacturer of roof windows, the VELUX Group employs creativity and an innovative approach to the development of new products and business strategies. In its mission to create better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof the Group has earned the reputation of being one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector. The VELUX Group has manufacturing companies in 11 countries and sales companies in just under 40 countries, it has about 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family.

www.velux.com