The Spirit of Canada

Spirit of Canada, the first Open 60 Class Sailboat ever built in Canada, arrived at Port Credit Yacht Club Sunday evening.

The 60 foot single-handed high performance sailboat will be raced by Derek Hatfield in the Vendee Globe race in 2008. It's an Owen Clarke design built by a team in Coburg, Ontario.

The boat is still to be fitted with its keel and mast. Later this month, it will go to Port Credit Harbour Marina where it will be fitted with its keel. The official launch will take place in the Spring of 2007.

Derek Hatfield was 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year who finished in 3rd place overall in Class II in the 2002/03 Around Alone race. Derek had originally planned to compete in the VELUX 5 OCEANS in October, but the boat wasn't ready in time.