Boating in Canada News: November 2013

23 November 2013

Canadian Diane Reed suffers broken mast

Diane Reid is the first Canadian woman to take part in the challenging Mini Transat race from France to the Caribbean across the Atlantic Ocean in a 6.5m (21') sailboat. Stormy weather delayed the start for weeks. She had already stopped in Portugal to repair boat damage, with strict time limits. A week into the race Diane Reid's mast broke and she jury-rigged her mast and was sailing to the Canary Islands for more repairs.

Live Race: www.minitransat.fr (select Yslab from the drop-down list for Diane's class)Diane's boat location is here: www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=316017347
Website: www.onegirlsoceanchallenge.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/onegirlsoceanchallenge

This race is one of the most difficult single-handed races Diane is allowed only a short range VHF radio and paper charts -- no electronic navigation, forecasts, computers, or Sat. phones. When problem happen, you are very alone. The only modern aid is a transponder to allow boat position to be tracked.

From Diane's website:

What could be more amazing than racing single-handed over 4,300 nautical miles (about 8,000 kilometres) . . . solo, on a boat you can fit in your living room, and scream downwind at 20 knots!

13 November 2013

Canada's Mylene Paquette first N.American to row solo across north Atlantic

Mylène Paquette has completed her goal to row solo across the "long route" of the Atlantic Ocean. She arrived in France Tuesday with some injuries from the voyage. She had previously crossed the Atlantic in 2010, from Barbados to Morocco, as part of a six-person crew to become the the first Quebecer to row across an ocean.

Challenge: To row across the Atlantic Ocean, solo, from West to East
Route: Halifax, Canada to Lorient, France
Distance: 5,000 km (2,700 nautical miles)
When: July 6, 2013 to November 12, 2013
Departure: Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, Halifax, Canada
Arrival: Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, Lorient, France

Mylène met Diane Reed (One Girl's Ocean Challenge) at The Toronto Boat Show and sealed a friendship. Diane has just started the Mini Transat, a solo sailing race across the Atlantic from France to Guadeloupe.