CANADA'S most experienced round the world yachtsman can today announce the purchase of a yacht to race in the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Derek Hatfield and Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges has bought the Eco 60 yacht Great America III (formerly Solidaires) from veteran American solo sailor Rich Wilson.

The boat will now be renamed Spirit of Canada ahead of the 30,000-mile VELUX 5 OCEANS race which starts from La Rochelle in France in October. It will be the second time Derek, a native of New Brunswick, has competed in the VELUX 5 OCEANS after finishing third in Class II in the 2002/03 race.

Derek, the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year, said: "The new Spirit of Canada has a fantastic pedigree for round the world races and I know the boat well. The boat is in perfect condition and Rich spared no expense in getting ready for the last Vendée Globe and it is ready to go again with very little preparation. We are very excited about the new ECO 60 class and the new Spirit of Canada."

Designed by famous naval architect Bernard Nivelt for French single hander Thierry Dubois, the new Spirit of Canada was launched in 1999 before being raced in the 2000 Vendée Globe. She was then entered in the 2002/03 edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS finishing second in Class I. In both the 2004 and 2008 Vendée Globe races she was skippered to a credible seventh position.

Derek will now race her in the Eco 60 class in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race, dubbed the Ultimate Solo Challenge. The Eco 60 class is for Open 60 yachts launched before 2003, taking away the emphasis on money and putting it back on the skill, seamanship and determination of each sailor. Derek plans to be the first person in history to race around the world without the use of fossil fuels to operate the boat.

He added: "The VELUX 5 OCEANS is all about 'Inspiring by Leading', showing as many people as possible that everyone can make a difference and collectively we can make a big difference to future generations."

Derek will start training in early May sailing the boat from its current berth in France to Nova Scotia where it will begin its transformation into Spirit of Canada. The yacht will adopt the instantly recognisable Spirit of Canada red colours as well as the familiar boat number 84, proudly placed on her bows. The names of 7,000 supporters will also be transported across from Derek's last Open 60 Spirit of Canada. The names, collected during Derek's eight-year-campaign, will serve as 'virtual crew' during the long solitary passages at sea.

For further information on Spirit of Canada, please contact Patianne Verburgh:

Office: +1.647.288.7342
Mobile: +1.902.529.2626
www.spiritofcanada.ne
patianne@spiritofcanada.ne
For further information on the VELUX 5 OCEANS, please contact Tim Kelly, Race Director of Communications:
T: + 44 7773 325 533
E: tkelly@velux5oceans.com
W: www.velux5oceans.com