Hatfield will not compete in 2006 Velux 5 Oceans Race

Oct/06: Derek Hatfield, originally built a new Open 60 sailboat "Spirit of Canada" to compete in the Velux 5 Oceans starting from Bilbao, Spain October 22. Hatfield and his team have now decided not to participate. The boat was built with support from thousands of Canadians, who donated money to have their name painted on the hull. Hatfield will now enter the boat in the Vendee Globe 2008, a singlehanded, non-stop sailing race around the world starting November 2008 - one of the toughest races on earth. (Canadian Boat Shows & Events | Canadian Boating News Archive)