Eric Holden named Canada's Top Sailor

As Canada's first skipper in the Clipper Round the World Race, Eric Holden (35) led a crew of 55 amateur sailors around the world on the 70ft yacht Henri Lloyd  – and won first place in one of the most challenging races in the world.  Sail Canada and Rolex Canada chose him as 2014 Rolex Sailor of the Year. Holden had already been named Sailor of the Month three times by Sail Canada. Holden and his five Canadian crew members – Fiona Garforth-Bles, James Dick, Michael Jauncey, Morgen Watson, Phil Driver – were jointly awarded the Gerry Roufs Trophy for offshore racing.

Eric has been a member of the Canadian Sailing Team for 5 years, and was on the first Canadian team to win the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race in a century.

Eric Holden plans to race solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world in the 2016 Vendee Globe. He will be the first Canadian to tackle this gruelling race held every four years. He will use "O Canada9" a 60-ft sailboat built in 2008 originally called "Spirit of Canada".

  Clipper Round the World Race won by Canadian
  2014 Rolex Sailor of the Year - Eric Holden
  Top Canadian Sailor will Race around the World