One Girl's Ocean Challenge First Sail Images

by Guy Perrin on 8 Apr 2010 Diane Reid's 21 foot Ocean Racer Mini 650 arrived in Toronto earlier this week after a long road trip from Seattle, WA; a significant day in Diane's life as this marked the start of Diane’s campaign to win the 2011 Mini Transat SOLO Ocean Race, a grueling 4000+ mile single-handed race across the Atlantic Ocean. Today was the first outing on Lake Ontario for One Girl's Ocean Challenge and I was there with camera in hand; unfortunately, after a balmy Easter week-end in the Toronto area, Mother Nature opted to serve us rain, fog and fickle winds. Some would say it;s typical lake Ontario sailing conditions...

In any case, I didn't have to ask Diane to smile for the camera; her infectious smile was radiant despite the weather. This is one more checkbox completed out of the way in achieving her dream of racing single-handed across the Atlantic Ocean in the 2011 Mini Transat event. Still much work ahead though; qualification races have to be completed over the next season to satisfy the registration requirements. You can follow Diane's adventures on her website at http://www.onegirlsoceanchallenge.com/ where you can also help by contributing financially to her campaign.