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8th
Annual Risk Management Conference
August
23-25, 2006 • Fairmont Mont Tremblant, Québec
Dinner Speaker: Derek Hatfield
Canada’s Premier Solo Ocean Racer
It takes tremendous courage, determination and persistence to sail around the
world alone. Only 126 brave sailors have ever done it. It is a tremendous
accomplishment under normal circumstances, but Derek Hatfield's story is
truly inspiring.
In May of 2003, Derek was given a hero’s welcome after completing the
"Around Alone" Single-handed Yacht Race, covering over 28,700
nautical miles in almost 8 months. Despite major obstacles along the way,
Derek was 1 of 9 international competitors and the only Canadian to finish
the grueling event. He built his own boat specifically designed for this
race. Unable to find a corporate sponsor, Derek, family and friends worked
tirelessly over five years to build and fund the boat from scratch and get
him to the start line.
In a life threatening and catastrophic capsize near Cape Horn,
his boat the Spirit of Canada was dismasted. Devastated, Derek and his team
of friends and supporters worked diligently for four weeks to repair the
boat and get him back onto the racecourse. With a new mast, new sails and
electronics, Spirit of Canada was once again sailing but obviously
significantly behind the rest of the boats. Upon reaching the finish line,
hundreds of people greeted him to pay homage to a man who just would not
quit. Finishing an amazing 3rd place overall in Class II, Derek was the
fastest 40' boat throughout the event.
Courage, determination, persistence and passion paid off. Derek and the
Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges Team are now building a competitive
60-foot Class I Spirit of Canada and plan to race around the world again in
the Five Oceans Race starting in September 2006.
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