Hatfield announces Open 60 campaign

Fresh campaign for former Canadian mountie

Derek Hatfield, 2003 Rolex Sailor of the Year and the only Canadian to finish the Around Alone Yacht Race in 2002/03, starts this year by announcing his strategy to build and compete in a state-of-the-art Open 60 Spirit of Canada for the sixth edition of the 5-Oceans Solo Round the World Yacht Race (formerly Around Alone/BOC Challenge). Hatfield says: "We are really encouraged by our results in the last race as thousands of supporters from across Canada and around the world, not just from sailors but people from every walk of life, followed the Open 40 Spirit of Canada. We are keeping the 'Spirit of Canada' alive."

The Open 60 Spirit of Canada will not only be built from cutting edge technology, but it will be the largest project of it's kind ever done in Canada.

Derek Hatfield is Canada's premier solo ocean racer, and is one of only 126 sailors in history to finish a single-handed race around the globe. He has shown the resourcefulness, perseverance and drive to succeed by finishing third in the 2002/03 Around Alone, despite a life threatening and catastrophic capsize near Cape Horn. Hatfield, along with the Spirit of Canada Team, continue to build momentum by working non-stop to secure sufficient sponsorship to represent Canada in Class I in 2006.

Decoma International Inc. is a major supporter of Spirit of Canada and more specifically Derek Hatfield. Decoma was a major sponsor for the 2002/2003 Around Alone Race and will continue it's support for the 2006 5-Ocean's Race. Al Power, Decoma's President and CEO, said "Derek Hatfield's accomplishments are not only phenomenal but a true Canadian success story. Decoma is completely behind Spirit of Canada's vision and we feel that Derek's passion and determination will lead him to great success for the next race".

Alongside Spirit of Canada in 2002, were 2500 individual sponsors who provided financial and moral support by having their names printed directly on the boat. Known as the 'AroundTogether' campaign, the goal for the 5-Oceans 2006 race is for 10,000 names to join Skipper Hatfield as he represents Canada in this prestigious and unique race around the world.

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges has also partnered with Earth Rangers, a charitable organisation with a very important vision: to inspire within children a lasting passion to improve the environment. Robert Schad, CEO of Husky Injection Molding and the founder of the Schad Foundation and Earth Rangers, is a true visionary and believes that the education of our children is the most effective way to nurture a lifelong commitment to the environment. Schad and Hatfield have similar beliefs in that there is a natural connection between the environment, oceans, education and human endeavours. Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges will utilize its involvement in the 5-Oceans Race to educate children about the importance of the environment.