Vendée Globe

A Canadian adventure

His new Owen Clarke design with its maple leaf mainsail will stand out at the pontoons in Port Olona. A fully-fledged Canadian, this yachtsman in his fifties from the wide-open spaces of Ontario is going to be a major attraction in this Vendée Globe.
This former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who became Manager of the Compliance Department at the Toronto Stock Exchange, came to sailing thanks to a neighbour and is already a round the world yachtsman. He in fact became the 126th sailor in the world to have sailed alone around the planet. That was in 2002 at the age of fifty on board a 40-footer christened Spirit of Canada. He finished Around Alone in third place in his class, in spite of a very long stopover for repairs having dismasted off Cape Horn. Named Rolex sailor of the year in 2003 for Canada, he also won the trophy in that same year that bears the name of the late Gerry Roufs.
Finally, and it is far from being the least of his qualities, Derek Hatfield is a keen defender of nature. With the Earth Rangers, a charitable organisation, he has launched a partnership to bring to the attention of children the importance of sustainable development and environmental protection. He will be setting sail with the fully justified pride of taking the first Canadian built Open 60 boat around the world.

Press Contact : Patianne VERBURGH
+1 416 816 7446 / patianne@spiritofcanada.net

• 3rd in 40’ in Around Alone in 2002
• 2nd in the Bermuda One-Two in 1999, 2nd in 1997
• Winner of the 1996 Legend Cup Transatlantic Race
• 7th in the 1996 Europe One single-handed transatlantic race

On the 60’ « Spirit of Canada »
• 12th in the 2007 Transat B to B

For the 2008 Vendée Globe, Derek Hatfield built his boat in Canada based on a design by Owen-Clarke. While she may not feature all the latest developments, Algimouss Spirit of Canada is likely to be a solid boat, which is tried and tested and should enable her skipper to sail around the world without a hitch.

Boat - Designer: Owen Clarke Design - Boatyard: Ocean Challenges - Launch date: May 2007 - Length: 18.28m (60’) - Beam: 5.50m (18’) - Draught: 4.50m (14’9’’) - Displacement (weight): 8800kg) - Number of daggerboards: 2 - Mast height: 27.50m (90’2’’) - Keel blade: steel - Upwind sail surface : 310m2 - Downwind sail surface: 500m2

© François Chevalier

• 19/03/09 : Pit stop in Auckland
• 05/03/09 : Derek forced to make a pit stop in New Zealand
• 27/02/09 : Derek Hatfield sets sail again
• 17/02/09 : Derek preparing to sail
• 09/01/09 : Derek's work continues in Hobart