Hatfield takes 3rd in Velux 5 Oceans

Derek Hatfield, Canada's top solo sailor, took third place in the 30,000-mile 2010/11 Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race. The 58-year-old sailed the 60-foot Active House across the finish line at 0707 UTC on May 29 in La Rochelle, France. Derek sailed a total of 32,216 miles which took 130 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes. Derek edged out Chris Stanmore-Major for 3rd place overall by only 3 points in the world's toughest sailing race.

Derek is the only Canadian to have sailed solo around the world twice. In the 2002/3 Velux 5 Oceans, his yacht was capsized and the mast lost rounding Cape Horn, but he managed to repair the boat and finished the race. In 2008 he raced in the Vendée Globe but he had to retire when his yacht's rig was damaged.

Derek said, "This was a huge project, two years in preparation and then nine months of sailing and to get it all done is amazing. The sense of accomplishment is huge. It will sink in a bit later when we're tied to the dock and able to relax a bit, but right now it feels good. ... It's my third race round the world, and my second complete circumnavigation. It feels good to be representing Canada and the flag, and that's what it's all about for us."

Canada loves you too Derek!
[www.velux5oceans.com]

Canadian Derek Hatfield racing well in Velux 5 Oceans

Derek Hatfield, currently running a close 3rd in the Velux 5 Oceans race. The sailors have reached the Tasman Sea in the second sprint from South Africa to New Zealand, but they still have about 1000 miles to go, with a choice of routes to be made. You can view the boats on the Raceviewer and listen to his latest voice recording. Dekek's site is spiritofcanada.org. You can also follow news via Facebook, Twitter (@Velux5oceans) and the sponsor site Activehouse.info.

2 Canadians to race in Velux 5 Oceans

Canada currently has two sailors committed to race in the Velux 5 Oceans (former Around Alone) starting October 17: Derek Hatfield and John Dennis. Derek Hatfield has entered several ocean races in "Spirit of Canada". Hatfield was forced to quit the non-stop Vendee Globe 2008 in Australia. Dennis was forced to retire from the Around Alone 2002 on the third leg to New Zealand, and was the first sailor with diabetes to compete in a solo around-the-world race.

The Velux 5 Oceans is the longest single-handed event in the world - 30,000 nautical miles (55,000 km) around the world raced in legs in Open 60 monohull sailboats. [Velux 5 Oceans | John Dennis | spiritofcanada.net: Derek Hatfield ]

2 Canadian Golds at ISAF Sailing World Cup

Canada got reward from its star performers with top-10 ranked Michael Leigh (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club) collecting first in Laser class. Paul Tingley (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron) showed why he’s the reigning Paralympic Champion with a hard-fought win in the 2.4mR event. [www.sailing.org]

Cape Breton entry in the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race

Cape Breton Island the Canadian entry in the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race; a ten months, 56,300-km ocean race involving 400 sailors.The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race started 13 September 2009 with 10 open 20-metre yachts embarked on a circumnavigation of the globe. They will return to the United Kingdom in July 2010. www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Derek Hatfield retires from "The Vendee Globe"

Yesterday, Derek Hatfield had a knock down aboard "Algimouss Spirit of Canada" in the The Vendee Globe race. Derek writes: "... the boat went over and I ended up on the ceiling with all kinds of articles whizzing past me. The boat came upright immediately and the carnage inside was immediate. I rushed on deck and my heart sank to see two of the spreaders dangling limp on the shrouds. The shock hits you quickly that this is not fixable and the end of the race is here already."
At 1527 GMT today Derek Hatfield formally retired from the sixth Vendee Globe, the world's most challenging yacht race. Derek is currently south of Australia, trying to reach Hobart, Tasmania (estimated 8 days). Canada is proud of you, Derek. We send our prayers to you, your team, and family.
vendeeglobe.org :: spiritofcanada.net
Nov.13/08: Derek Hatfield returns for repairs in Round the World Race
Apr.19/08: Derek Hatfield qualifies for Round the World Race

Derek Hatfield returns for repairs in Round the World Race

Derek Hatfield, 56, in "Algimouss Spirit of Canada" began The Vendee Globe race November 9 with 30 other boats. He reported electrical problems after a gale and returned to Les Sables d'Olonne, France for repairs. Race rules allow 10 days to restart. Algimouss came on board as sponsor but Hatfield is still short of funds. Hatfield is the first and only Canadian to attempt this single-handed yacht race, non-stop eastward around the world via the southern oceans (23,680 n.mi.), starting in France. Only 126 sailors have ever circumnavigated alone.
Nov. 15: Derek has restarted 6 days late, currently doing 10 kts with the lead boats 1,000 n.mi. ahead.
Nov. 25: Second last out of 26 boats still in the race, approaching the equator by Africa, 1,487 n.mi. behind leader.
[vendeeglobe.org News | spiritofcanada.net]

Canadian Sailor enters SolOceans Race

Phil Paxton has officially announced he will enter the first ever SolOceans® solo around-the-world sailing competition. The race will begin on October 25, 2009 and feature competitors from around the world. What makes the SolOceans race unique is that all competitors race using Veolia Oceans® one-design Bostik 16-metre sailboats with identical sails and equipment. Paxton is currently seeking sponsors, including a title sponsor to name the boat.

Phil Paxton has made several solo oceanic voyages starting in 1979. He's crossed every ocean at least once, and spent two years cruising the South Pacific with his family. This will be the first time Paxton has attempted to sail solo around the world – a venture requiring skill and endurance. Paxton just sailed from France to New York aboard the first boat built for the race, identical to the vessel he will be sailing.
[www.soloceans.com | www.globalsails.ca]

Canadian Sailing Team for Olympics

The Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) announced its sailing team of 14 for 8 events in the Summer Beijing Olympics Games (sailing events will be held at Qingdao, China). Several are favoured to win medals. Chris Cook has four consecutive top 10 finishes in the finn worlds and is ranked 10th by the International Sailing Federation: Olympics. Mike Leigh won the 2008 Semaine Olympique Francais and is ranked fifth in the world. Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle were second at the Tornado World Championships and are currently ranked seventh. Members of the Canadian Olympic sailing team are:

• Finn: Chris Cook, Toronto
  
• Laser: Mike Leigh, Vancouver
• Tornado: Oskar Johansson, Toronto - Kevin Stittle, Orangeville, Ont.
• 49er: Gordon Cook , Toronto - Ben Remocker, Vancouver
  
• Radial: Lisa Ross, Halifax
  
• Windsurfing: Zac Plavsic - Nikola Girke, Vancouver;
  
• 470: Stephane Locas , Montreal - Oliver Bone, Beaconsfield, Que.
  
• yngling: Jen Provan, Toronto - Martha Henderson, Toronto - Katie Abbott, Sarnia, Ont.
  

Derek Hatfield qualifies for Round the World Race

Canadian sailor Derek Hatfield officially qualified to enter the Vendee Globe 2008 singlehanded non-stop race around the world by completing the qualifier race, Transat Ecover B2B, from Brazil to France. His Canadian-built Open 60, Spirit of Canada will carry the official race number; #15. Hatfield is the only Canadian in the race and will be the first Canadian team to attempt the race. The Vendee Globe, is a single-handed yacht race, non-stop eastward around the world via the southern oceans, starting in France in November 2008.

Hatfield is currently sailing the boat back to Canada to work on it and raise the additional money required for the venture. He has raised funds through corporate donations and his "Around Together" campaign that puts small donors' names on the hull for a small donation. He has raised $1,600,000 from 5200 small donations, but needs to raise much more before the start of the race.

Canadian enters Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

The Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has a Canadian entry - VALKYRIE, a Swan 78 owned and skippered by Will Apold. On November 26, 18-metre yachts from seven nations – Barbados, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Monaco and Norway - will race from Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) to St. Maarten. Satellite tracking systems will monitor each yacht’s progress - view it at www.yccs.it. [International Maxi Association]

Nova Scotia win race in leg 2 of Clipper 07-08 Yacht Race

The Nova Scotia team, led by skipper Rob McInally crossed the line first in Race 3 in the second leg of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. The Canadian win along the Brazil coast gives them 3rd place. Leg 1 included a 25-day race from France to Brazil. Ten boats are currently racing to South Africa, expected to arrive Nov. 17. The 7th and final leg stops in Halifax July 2008 en route from Jamaica, to New York, Ireland, and England. [News | Live coverage | Canadian Boat Shows & Events]