| Free Public Lecture - Derek Hatfield |
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The ‘Spirit of Canada’ at Sea: Taking Canada’s Colours Around the World
If sports are a metaphor for life and all its concerns – personal, financial, business, family – then imagine the lessons we can learn from the world’s most difficult and challenging individual competition: single-handed open ocean sailing. Derek Hatfield, Canada’s premier solo ocean racer and 2003 Rolex ‘Sailor of the Year’ and only Canadian to finish the gruelling ‘Around Alone Yacht Race in 2002-03’, draws out these lessons in a fascinating and visually stimulating presentation that tells the story of his successful completion of the 28,700 nautical miles ‘Around Alone’ race. From perseverance and teamwork to sharp focus and strong entrepreneurial drive, Skipper Hatfield weaves a tale that is both practical and motivational, and is sure to resonate with everyone that listens. It takes tremendous courage, determination and persistence to race around the world alone, and Derek Hatfield is the 126th person in the history of solo racing to have done it! Sailing single-handed around the world is an incredible accomplishment, certainly equal to the feats of the 400+ astronauts who have gone into space or the 15,000 mountaineers who have reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Come and hear, first hand, Derek’s truly inspiring story of becoming a competitor in the 2002-03 ‘Around Alone’, details of the race including his devastating pitch-pole and dismasting near the infamous Cape Horn, his eventual first-place finish in his class, and his being only the second Canadian ever to complete this demanding race. Following this event came 5-years building North America’s first state-of-the-art all carbon IMOCA 60 in order to compete in the November 2008 ‘Vendee Globe’, a non-stop race around the planet. Only 11 of the 30 competitors finished the race, and after 50 days at sea, much of that time enduring vicious Southern Ocean storms, Derek’s 60-foot ‘Spirit of Canada’ was rolled upside down and sustained severe damage to the mast that could not be repaired at sea and forced to retire from the race. This disappointing outcome has a bright side: through perseverance, determination and his “Never Give Up” attitude, Derek and his team are now preparing a new ‘Spirit of Canada’ ECO 60 for the upcoming ‘VELUX 5 Oceans’ single-handed race that starts in France on 17 October 2010. This prestigious race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport, and the racers will navigate through a series of high-pressure sprints within a marathon circumnavigation of the world’s oceans. St. Margaret Sailing Club For additional information call: David Nettleship (phone: 826-2360; e-mail: dnnlundyd <at> navnet <dot> net). There is a voluntary ‘coin collection’ of $2.00 per person to offset the cost of travel and support staff. |
