Spirit of Canada AroundTogether - the Grassroots story continues

by www.Sail-World.com on 22 Oct 2009 In a unique grass roots funding campaign, since 1996 the Spirit of Canada team has been putting the names of those individuals who have supported Spirit of Canada on the hulls of both Spirit of Canada open sailboats.

These 'crew members' have either contributed financial or in-kind support or their valuable time. The first Spirit of Canada was an Open 40, built by volunteers for the Around Alone 2002 and carried over 3000 names around the world on her hull. This grassroots fundraising campaign became known as 'AroundTogether'.

From 2003 to the start of the Vendee Globe in November 2008, another 5700 crew member names were placed on the hull of the Open 60 Spirit of Canada; this time in reflective safety tape to provide improved visibility at night.

A scan of the AroundTogether crew members listed on the Spirit of Canada website reveals a never ending list of people including: individuals (some famous), children, competitors, family members and even boat and pet names that were added by their owners.

To say the least, this grass roots campaign has been an overwhelming success and it is the reason Spirit of Canada has been able to compete in two around the world races as it has provided Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges with the seed funding it required to succeed.

Spirit of Canada is grateful to those that have contributed. Derek Hatfield has commented numerous times that it is the motivational support from those names on the hull that has kept him going when the times are tough. He is also quoted that 'it was the risk of disappointing those supporters that kept him from giving up'.

The next challenge will be the VELUX 5 Oceans race, formerly the Around Alone. The start line is in France on October 17th, 2010 and will take the racers around the world via stopovers in Cape Town, Wellington, Salvador de Bahia, Charleston and then back to La Rochelle in France. Derek is the first official entry in the ECO 60 division of the VELUX 5 Oceans 2010 Round the World Yacht Race.

The tradition continues with the new Spirit of Canada ECO 60. For the VELUX 5 Oceans starting in October 2010, the 5700 names that were on the Open 60 for the Vendee Globe will be transferred to the new ECO 60 so that their trip around the world will continue. We are encouraging those supporters to contribute again and to show appreciation for their continued support, each crew member will receive a free copy of the Spirit of Canada story 'Never Give Up!' currently being written.

Please encourage other individuals and companies to put their name on the hull as the goal remains 10,000 names to go around the world in 2010. Each contribution will receive a piece of Spirit of Canada clothing to reflect their generous contribution.

To put your name on the hull, please go to: http://spiritofcanada.net/wordpress2/donate/

Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges

PO Box 39506, Lakeshore Cawthra RPO Mississauga, Ontario, L5G 4S6

For more information, please contact Spirit of Canada Ocean Challenges at 647.288.7342

Or visit www.spiritofcanada.net