Canada’s New Open 60 program Announces Open Call for Aspiring Offshore Athletes

16 February 2015, Vancouver — One of Canada’s most successful offshore racers, Eric Holden, announces his Canadian Ocean Racing Open 60 program will be accepting applications from young aspiring offshore sailors for select spots on the COR Launch Tour.

Canadian Ocean Racing will officially launch its Aspiring Offshore Athletes program this Spring out of Vancouver. The program’s Launch Tour will provide young offshore sailors with training journeys onboard Open 60 O Canada this Spring/Summer, skippered by Canada’s Rolex Sailor of the Year Eric Holden.

“I had to just about beg, borrow and steal my way onto boats abroad to build my offshore racing career. I started Canadian Ocean Racing to offer better opportunities, mentorship and access to offshore racing in Canada. But, I’m still looking to work with young Canadian sailors who, like me, have already taken the initiative to get themselves involved in offshore racing,” said Holden.

Opportunities are available in pre-Launch boat prep (Vancouver), select legs of the Launch Tour journey, and support at the Pan Am games. Canadian Ocean Racing invites aspiring offshore sailors across Canada to apply to join this small, elite group who are building Canada’s premier offshore racing program.

The COR Launch Tour will begin out of Vancouver in April 2015, with stopovers in San Francisco, Acapulco, a journey through the Panama Canal, Fort Lauderdale, New York City and Halifax. The tour will conclude in Toronto with events surrounding the Pan Am Games in July 2015.

Holden founded Canadian Ocean Racing with former Clipper Round the World Race crew member, Morgen Watson; together they are building the profile of Canadian offshore racing on top of their 2013-2014 Clipper Race win.

“Eric was a great mentor in the Clipper Race and has continued to help me advance my offshore career. I’m really excited about the COR Launch Tour coming up and working with fellow young and eager offshore racers in Canada,” said Watson.

Holden wants the program to be as accessible as possible, so there are no enrollment fees for participation in the COR Launch Tour training program. Travel and accommodation will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Generous donations and the support of Wind Athletes Canada help make this program possible.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to submit their sailing & professional CVs plus a cover letter email to info@canadianoceanracing.com with “Aspiring Athlete” in the subject line. Please include in the email the leg(s) of the COR Launch Tour you wish to participate in and the skills you offer.

Applicants must be 21-35 years of age, a Canadian national and have some offshore experience. Deadline for submission is 1 March, 2015.

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Press Contact

Meg Reilly, PR & Partnerships Manager

mreilly@canadianoceanracing.com

+1 908 279 5747

Canadian Ocean Racing

Canadian Ocean Racing (COR) is Canada’s premier offshore racing team. Founded by Eric Holden and Morgen Watson, COR is dedicated to promoting the sport of offshore racing in Canada. COR is using Open 60 O Canada for the training program and taking her back on the racing circuit to compete in the IMOCA races.

The mission of COR is to raise the profile of Canadian offshore racing while building a program to develop the next generation of sailors. The program was founded by the duo following their Clipper Round the World Race win in 2014. Visit www.canadianoceanracing.com for more information.

Wind Athletes Canada

Wind Athletes Canada is a Registered Amateur Athletic Association. It receives funding from charitable donations and other sources. Missions of Athletes Canada include: promoting the sport of sailing in Canada, supporting training programs and competitions that develop and support promising sailors from the grass roots level of the sport through to national and international levels.

Wind Athletes also provides funding and support to members of the Canadian Sailing Team. The organization offers support for hosting sailing competitions

and fundraising activities with the proceeds to be distributed to the programs of Wind Athletes Canada. Visit www.windathletes.ca for more information.

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world’s longest ocean race. The Race is 40,000 miles long and takes almost a year to complete. Twelve teams race on a matched fleet of Clipper Race 70 ocean racing yachts. In the 2013-2014 edition of the Race, Team Henri Lloyd, skippered by Eric Holden, won the race.

Established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1996 to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to experience the thrill of ocean racing, it’s the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Approximately 40 per cent of crew have no sailing experience before they sign up to the challenge. www.clipperroundtheworld.com