The Race

On Sunday, 95 boats with 190 sailors will be lining up for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie-Le Havre. This year is the 30th anniversary edition of the legendary double-handed transatlantic race that continues to see increased interest with each edition.

This famous race reels the crowds, and sailors, back every two years and this edition promises to be as good or better than those that have come before. For this 15^th edtion, four classes will be on the start line, from the monster Ultims and Ocean Fifty trimarans to the blistering IMOCAs and hugely competitive Class40s. For every sailor in Le Havre preparing to take on this marathon there will be nerves and trepidation, but the minute the start gun fires that will wash away while the focus sets in.

The Team

Scott Shawyer will be hoping to become the first Canadian to finish the Transat Jacques Vabre since Mike Birch, in the first edition in 1993. A fierce competitor and no stranger to adversity, Scott is using this race onboard his Owen Clarke designed IMOCA, Be Water Positive, as a step along the path to the 2028/29 Vendée Globe.

Despite being a relative newcomer to ocean racing, Scott’s co-skipper Nick Moloney is not. Nick has competed in two previous Transat Jacques Vabre, as well as the 2004 Vendée Globe, the America’s Cup and a host of other events. Scott will have a fantastic opportunity to learn more about life at sea on what will be his longest non-stop race to date.

Their boat, Be Water Positive, has had an extensive refit under the management of 5 West over the last year. Designed Owen Clarke for the 2012 Vendée Globe under the colors of Acciona, she is a more traditional, non-foiling IMOCA. This year, Scott has competed in the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race in May, as well as the Rolex Fastnet Race in July; Both these events were vitally important to prepare both Scott and the boat for the Transat Jacques Vabre, undoubtedly his hardest challenge in sailing yet.

The Competition

The top end of the IMOCA fleet is filled to the brim with incredible designs and vastly experienced sailors. Having a look at the fleet on the eve of the race, it will be hard to discount boats like For People, Charal, MACIF Santé Prévoyance and Paprec Arkéa from taking the podium positions. These brand-new designs from three different designers have not only shown their pedigree in the races leading up to the Transat Jacques Vabre, but are stacked with experience. Between the eight sailors, they have a total of thirteen wins in this race. Clearly, the competition will be tight at the head and there will be no time to relax.

As with all ocean races, it’s not always about how fast your boat is; To finish first, first you much finish, as the old adage goes. Reliability is something that the IMOCA fleet has been focussed on for a number of years now and every team will need to work their hardest to make it to that finish line in Fort-de-France.

In May’s Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, Be Water Positive was in close contact with a little pack of  non-foilers in Monnoyeur – Duo For A Job, skippered by Benjamin Ferré and Pierre le Roy, and Fives-Lantana Environnement, skippered by Louis Duc and Halvard Mabire. Scott and Nick would do well to stay with these two in the Transat Jacques Vabre. Monnoyeur-Duo For a Job is a previous Vendée Globe winner, under the colors of MACIF in 2012, and Louis Duc onboard Fives-Lantana Environnement is a veteran of six Transat Jacques Vabre. Between the three boats, there’s a good spread of designers, boat age and experience of skippers – it will be exciting to watch, if not a little nerve-wracking.

Regardless of the competition around, with a fleet of this size, Scott and Nick will not have an easy ride of things. The depth of talent in amongst the boats of a similar generation to Be Water Positive is hard to ignore. Legends of the sport like Mike Golding (Singchain Team Haiku) and Roland Jourdain (Freelance.com), who have more than 15 Transat Jacques Vabre entries between them, are sailing on boats just a little older than Be Water Positive, so there’s a fantastic opportunity for Scott to learn from some big names of the sport.

The Weather

The Transat Jacques Vabre is can always be relied upon to throw something in the way of the sailors willing to take it on. The competitors will be well aware of the risk of North Atlantic storms sitting in their way as they attempt to head south towards warmer climes. This year looks no different, with a low pressure system making its way eastwards, likely to impact the weather at the start.

Looking at the forecast today, the sailors could be looking at over 30 knots of wind and rough seas come the gun. As well as the bad weather, the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre is particularly challenging thanks to Le Havre’s location in the English Channel. Not only will the intrepid sailors have to deal with high winds and lumpy seas, but they will need to be on high alert for other competitors and commercial traffic transiting the busiest shipping channel in the world. Not an easy task by any means.

At 52, the Canadian is continuing his discovery of ocean racing. The man who dreams of taking part in the Vendée Globe is about to embark on his first Transat Jacques Vabre, between Le Havre and Martinique. With just a handful of days to go before the start, he talks about his preparation and motivation.

In the last week he has discovered Le Havre and the Normandy weather, the city rebuilt after the war and the capital of ocean racing. Nearly a hundred competitors – including 40 IMOCA boats – have gathered to compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre, which is scheduled to start this Sunday. Among them, the ‘Be Water Positive’ duo: Canadian, Scott Shawyer,  and Australian Nick Moloney.  Scott who aspires to be the first Canadian to complete the the Vendée Globe in the 2028 edition, is continuing his express apprenticeship in ocean racing and tackling head on the demands of the open sea. The atmosphere here in Le Havre is really great,” says Scott. “The other skippers are very welcoming, which gives you energy! “

“Ready to go” 

As the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre approaches, he’s not hiding a touch of apprehension. “It’s a bit stressful, I feel like there’s so much to do but we have a great team here preparing the boat” he explains. Having joined forces with Alex Thomson Racing he is benefiting from the organisation’s expertise. “The preparations are going well” and Scott says he feels “ready to go physically, mentally and technically”.  Scott and Nick are now studying the developing weather conditions in detail, which “will determine a lot at the start of the race”.

Scott Shawyer, president, and skipper of Canada Ocean Racing, continues his journey towards becoming the first Canadian to finish the Vendée Globe by announcing Nick Moloney as his coach and double-handed sailing partner for the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre.  

With less than two months till the race start, Moloney, a three-times circumnavigator, returns to offshore sailing to stand alongside Shawyer in the upcoming 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre double handed offshore yacht race from France to Martinique which starts from the port of Le Harve on October 29th 

No stranger to Transatlantic races, Moloney has sailed across the Atlantic 20 times and has raced around the world in three different sailing disciplines, establishing the fastest non-stop record in 2002 as part of the Maxi Catamaran Orange crew. 

The solo non-stop 2004-2005 Vendée Globe became Moloney’s most infamous and heart-wrenching race, ending in near-disaster when his keel fell off in the South Atlantic after 80 days alone at sea. 

Shawyer says of the decision to bring Moloney into the team, “Nick has an extensive racing history and a lengthy list of achievements, and although sailing technology has come a long way since he last took part in a major race, Nick has a rare connection to the ocean and the elements that no computer can teach me. He is known for his ability to weather storms and cross finish lines. While our time together so far has been brief, we have a great connection and are confident in the balance of our collective strengths and weaknesses. I am excited for the journey ahead with Nick on our team!” 

Moloney, also known for his adventurous side, knows what it takes to set and achieve impossible goals.  

 Moloney says, “Scott has set a bold ambition and the reality of what lies ahead is becoming clearer by the day. His aim to sail solo, to race for months at sea in the 2028 Vendee Globe, is something few people have considered, let alone done. I look forward to sharing my experience from my own Vendee Globe attempt as well as my further two around-the-world passages, to help Scott realise his dream of becoming a solo circumnavigator.” 

Offshore racing requires a commitment of the mind as well as the body. The unpredictable environment, worsening each year with the impacts of climate change, takes an enormous toll on even the strongest of athletes.  

 Moloney adds, “When you are down to your last drop of energy, desperate to keep moving forward, the motivation behind the goal enables you to give that little bit more. Since I retired from elite-level offshore yacht racing a few years ago, this is something that I have missed. I am looking forward to the vulnerability and exposure again. But it is Scott’s goals that are now my motivation. His ambition inspires me, and my reward is ultimately his success.”  

Canada Ocean Racing today unveils its new team name Be Water Positive. With their mission still to be the first Canadian team to complete the Vendée Globe, they will also be raising awareness and promoting what it is to Be Water Positive.

The team’s performance goals remain the same; aiming to be the first Canadian to complete the Vendée Globe, however, they will be sailing under a new purpose, committed to building awareness of what water positivity truly means through key partnerships.  By forging alliances with key organizations in the water reuse and desalination industries, and supporting the UN Water Action Decade, the team aims to educate and engage the public on the importance of responsible water usage. 

Skipper, Scott Shawyer had the following to say on the team’s new name and purpose. “Through my experiences on the oceans, I have come to think a great deal about water. Despite its apparent abundance, clean freshwater is a scarce and invaluable resource needed to sustain human life. As Canadians, we are privileged to have vast freshwater resources that we sometimes take for granted. As Be Water Positive we recognize the urgent need for responsible water management. Embracing this new purpose allows us to shed light on the global water scarcity and inspire positive change. Together with our key partners we can make a significant impact by promoting a message of water positivity“. 

Water positivity refers to the practice of contributing more to freshwater resources than is consumed. It encompasses various approaches, including reducing water consumption, reusing water resources, and producing more freshwater through sustainable desalination. By working closely with prominent organizations in the water industry, the team aims to promote their work, innovations and messages. 

Be Water Positive is thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Desalination Association (IDA), a global organization dedicated to promoting desalination, water reuse, and water technology solutions. The agreement between Be Water Positive and IDA solidifies their shared commitment to promoting sustainable water practices. Through this collaboration, the team will leverage the expertise and resources of the IDA to further their mission of promoting water positivity. 

Shannon McCarthy, Secretary General IDA, commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Be Water Positive IMOCA team. The team will cross the oceans with a profound purpose, spotlighting and educating people on the need for water sustainability solutions and protecting our oceans, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation for All, and Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action. With over 2 billion people lacking access to clean drinking water today and an expected increase in water demand of more than 50% by 2050, coupled with the need to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on freshwater resources. The IDA will support the team in their Sustainability Education Program about desalination and water reuse systems to create a water positive world.” 

Today the team are also announcing the first partnership with an industry leader H2O Innovation. Be Water Positive will work closely with H2O Innovation to promote how they are moving towards being more water positive.

President and CEO, Frédéric Dugré commented, “In October 2022, we were invited to meet the Canada Ocean Racing team and to tour their boat in Quebec City, the home of H2O Innovation. Experiencing the exciting and challenging nature of sailing on an IMOCA boat alongside the Team in Halifax (Canada) and Brest (France), I developed a deep appreciation for the parallels between sailing and business, as both require discipline and precise execution. Our association with the Be Water Positive sailboat aligns with our mission to promote water reuse, desalination, and ocean protection. With the IDA’s endorsement, our leadership within the water industry, and the support of other partners, the Be Water Positive IMOCA will serve as a unique marketing vehicle as it races across the ocean and shares live experiences. This new platform will allow us to interact with people outside our industry and thus reach a greater audience. The Be Water Positive Team will act as a vehicle for change through which we aspire to shift the population’s mentality with regards to the protection, consumption, and recycling of water.” 

The team will continue to focus on building a world class North American offshore sailing team. While promoting what water positivity means through key partnerships. The Be Water Positive team are currently making their final preparations for their first race ,the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race that starts on 22 July 2022. 

Canada Ocean Racing today announced Martin Strömberg (SWE) as the co-skipper for the upcoming Rolex Fastnet Race. With his impressive sailing credentials and dedication to the sport, Strömberg brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team

Strömberg had his first taste of offshore competition during the Volvo, igniting his drive for further challenges. He joined Oracle as a sailmaker during the America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007 and then became a trimmer on Ericsson 3 in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. Martin’s career in the Ocean Race continued with French team Groupama, with whom he won the race in 2011-2012. Following that, he competed in the next two editions of the race with Dongfeng Race Team & Turn the Tide on Plastic respectively, where he was instrumental in the development of Chinese and youth offshore sailors.  

 “I’m looking forward to the challenge of the Rolex Fastnet Race and excited to be a part of Canada Ocean Racing. The Fastnet is a demanding race that tests the limits of skill and endurance, and I am eager to take it on alongside the team’s Skipper Scott Shawyer. I also see this as an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience, working together to achieve the team’s goals of mile building and make a strong impact in the race.”

The Rolex Fastnet Race, renowned as one of the most demanding sprint offshore races, will serve as a good training ground for Strömberg & Shawyer. The race, which combines tactical decision-making and physical endurance, will undoubtedly put the duo to the test as they race from Cowes, Isle of Wight to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France.

With this being the team’s third race of the year, it continues to add to the training programme the team has outlined in the lead up to the 2028 Vendée Globe. Team mentor Alex Thomson commented “For Scott to have Martin onboard with him for the Fastnet will be a fantastic experience. Martin brings a wealth of knowledge to the team which will be valuable for Scott to tap into, especially for such a short offshore race it is going to be key for them to work together”.  

I am ecstatic to have just completed my first IMOCA Series race after just one short year since beginning this adventure! It was absolutely amazing experience to be racing against the legends of shorthanded offshore sailing on the fastest ocean going monohulls in the world!

The start was a thrill with thirteen IMOCAs lining up, teams and fans on boats chasing, taking photos and cheering support while a media helicopter buzzed in the air. As we set off it was pretty cool to be ahead, with many top boats fighting to catch up and get past us. Seeing Charal and Maitre CoQ cross within 50 feet behind us was pretty intense as we made our way out of Brest.

As the race progressed, we focused on the race within the race and our competitors in similar boats. Of the boats in the fleet, eight were in cutting edge foiling boats and five of us have older daggerboard boats. It was really hard work physically and I was pretty seasick for much of the race. I have to admit on night three I was cold, wet, exhausted, seasick and not eating, bouncing around like crazy, and absolutely hating it all. Then having not one, not two, but three of our four competitors drop off the back took away a lot of the competitive pressure that was keeping me going.

As the sun came up, the clouds opened, the air warmed and I could see the beauty around us. I was instantly grateful to just be there, on the ocean playing with Mother Nature. Not to mention on one bad-ass boat, racing against the worlds best in a freaking IMOCA Globe Series race! Suck it up buttercup, you are lucky to be here and this is amazing!

For the rest of the race, Ryan and I focussed every effort on sailing fast and keeping as close as we could to the boats ahead, especially the only other remaining daggerboard boat. We had ups and downs, good moments and bad, but pushed hard right to the end. It was amazing to finally cross the line with cameras upon us, showing our national pride in our lumberjack shirts and waving a Canadian flag. We received a warm welcome on the dock and a congratulatory beer and handshake from the winning daggerboard boat team.

Although last on the finisher list doesn’t look so hot, we are really happy with how we did. We were firstly out there to finish and finish safely. Secondly, we were really competing against the other four daggerboard boats and had aimed to come mid-pack. With three dropping off the back we finished second, and keeping as close as we did to the guys ahead of us was a huge success. They are very experienced skippers and their boat, which previously won Vendée Globe, is an absolute rocket.

It feels very rewarding to have achieved this milestone and receive so much support from everyone. It has been an amazing start for Canada Ocean Racing and I’m ecstatic with how far we have come in only one year. That all said, I can’t wait to get home to see my wife and kids and sleep in my warm and stationary bed tonight!

I want to say a huge thank you to my ever supporting wife Stacey, my fearless co-skipper Ryan, our skilled OBR Paddy, the entire talented Canada Ocean Racing team, my legendary mentor Alex Thomson and his amazing team, and everyone who is following our journey and showing their support! I appreciate all of you and look forward to sharing more of this adventure with you!

This evening at 16:32:25 co-skippers of Canada Ocean Racing Shawyer & Barkey crossed the finish line in Brest, France with an elapsed time of 5 days, 2 hours, 35 minutes and 25 seconds.

The 1400 mile Guyader Bermudes 1000 course firstly took the pair to a virtual mark to the south of Brest. The light winds for this section of the race meant the Canadian flagged boat was up amongst the favourites, and for some time sitting in third position ahead of Jeremy Beyou, Charal, as well as many other new generation foiling yachts.

From that point onwards the game was to not concede the places without a fight, knowing the foiling boats would be much faster on the proceeding legs of the race. Shawyer was willing to work hard to stay in touch with the newer generation boats.

“To be in the leading pack round the first mark felt great. But that signalled the start of some gruelling hours of sail trimming, navigating and making tactical decisions to take us to the next mark of the course, the Fastnet. To be short-tacking up the Irish coast line with Alan Roura on Hublot clearly showed we did something right.”

Unfortunately for the team, shortly after rounding the Fastnet rock, their starboard daggerboard was sheared off at the water level. After removing the remaining section of the board and initial safety checks the pair began discussing with their technical team the best steps forward.

Having confirmed with the team’s naval architect that the structure was sound, and with an agreed schedule for checking for further issues, the pair refocused on the race at hand.

Now heading south once again, the Canadians found themselves in 2nd place in the daggerboard boats hunting down Benjamin Ferré and Pierre Le Roy, Monnoyeur – Duo for a job, as well as being hunted themselves by Fives Group – Lantana Environnement, thus ensuring a great day and half of racing as the three daggerboard boats fought for every mile. However, due to a hydroelectric generator issue, Fives Group – Lantana Environnement were forced to retire. Couple this with the two other retirements further down the fleet from Freelance.com after breaking their bowsprit, and HUMAN Immobilier who were experiencing water ingress from the starboard rudder, leaving Scott & Ryan with only one focus of catching Ferré and Le Roy on Monnoyeur.

With the tricky weather systems at play in the North Atlantic the teams were forced north once again towards the Fastnet rock before making the long tack towards the most westerly mark of the course. All the while the pair were working hard to make up miles and slowly chipping away at catching Monnoyeur. But with a missing daggerboard and 30 miles to make up on an experienced team such as Ferré and Le Roy, it was not to be.

After crossing the line this evening in Brest proudly waving their country’s flag, co-skipper Barkey commented, “What a challenging race! For only 5 days it felt like we had everything thrown at us. I’m very happy with our performance, we hit our goals and showed that we can be up at the front of the pack, so for me personally, and as a team this is a great achievement to get to here.”

Ahead of the start of the Canadian team’s first ever IMOCA Globe Series Race, founder and skipper Scott Shawyer set the main objective of finishing the race, and joked about not being last. “For me on a personal level, this race as allowed me to implement all of the learning I have been doing over the course of preseason training which has been rewarding and exhausting all at the same time”.

Shawyer continued, “For Canada Ocean Racing, to finish our first IMOCA race is a credit to the team we are building here. It is a long journey to our end goal of the 2028 Vendée Globe and finishing races like these with a good performance shows we are heading in the right direction.”

General enquires: hello@canadaoceanracing.com 

Partnerships: Emma@canadaoceanracing.com 

Media: Paddy@5west.co.uk or Georgie@5west.co.uk 

Canadian sailors Scott Shawyer and Ryan Barkey today began the Guyader – Bermudes 1000 Race, the team’s first ever IMOCA Globe Series Race. 

Shawyer and his co-skipper – fellow Ontarian – departed from Brest France this afternoon to begin the 1200-mile Atlantic loop via the Fastnet at the southwestern tip of Ireland and a Gallimard Waypoint located northwest of Cape Finisterre. 

In what is the start of the IMOCA Globe Series, the duo line up against thirteen other IMOCA 60’s, four of which are from the same generation as the team’s non-foiling design.

Ahead of the start Shawyer said, “To get here to the start line is a great achievement for us as a team. Now the focus for Ryan and myself is to finish this race with as much learning as possible. If we can finish in front of some of the other non-foiling boats that would be great.” 

Despite the light winds as the fleet left Brest, both co-skippers were working hard to get the race underway in a competitive but safe position as the gun went at 1400 CEST.  

As planned, the team executed a conservative clean start in their first IMOCA race. In light winds the fleet split on the line with some taking the right-hand side and the rest the left with Canada Ocean Racing choosing the middle and proceeding well on that course.  

The remainder of the race will see the pair tackle a range of conditions in the Atlantic, the current routings are suggesting a race time of four to five days. This type of short sprint race is particularly challenging as is does not allow the sailors time to settle into a rhythm and is in fact a battle from start to finish.  

Alex Thomson supported the team at the start of the race and said “Great to see Scott and Ryan get across the start line today. The team have been working hard to get the boat race ready and have done a great job.  I am looking forward to seeing how our Canadian co-skippers settle into their first race and I will be keeping a close eye on them over the next few days.”

Shawyer and Barkey will be joined onboard by Paddy Condy who is the on-board reporter for the race. During the race Paddy is unable to aid in any sailing or navigation of the vessel. His role on-board is to bring the offshore action back to us. 

General enquires: hello@canadaoceanracing.com 

Partnerships: Emma@canadaoceanracing.com 

Media: Paddy@5west.co.uk or Georgie@5west.co.uk 

Canada Ocean Racing is ready to start the highly anticipated Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, set to take place from May 7, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The course is 1200-mile loop in the Atlantic via the Fastnet at the southwestern tip of Ireland and a Gallimard Waypoint located northwest of Cape Finisterre.

The Canadian co-skippers are excited to test their skills against some of the strongest skippers in the world. Scott Shawyer and Ryan Barkey will be leading the Canadian outfit as they take part in the team’s first IMOCA Globe Series race.

“For us as to get to our first globe series race is a huge milestone and demonstrates how far we have come in the past year. It has been an amazing adventure so far and I have learned so much. I am looking forward to continuing that learning in this race as well as the future races on my journey to the Vendée Globe 2028.” – Scott Shawyer

The Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race is known for its harsh conditions, with sailors facing everything from strong winds and high waves to tricky navigational challenges. However, the team is ready to take on whatever obstacles stand their way, thanks to the preseason training programme and preparation.

“We have put in countless hours of hard work to get to this point, and we are confident that we have what it takes to be successful,” said Barkey. “For us a successful race will be to cross the finish line in Brest”

For more information about Canada Ocean Racing and the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, please contact: 

General enquires: hello@canadaoceanracing.com 

Partnerships: Emma@canadaoceanracing.com 

Press: Paddy@5west.co.uk 

Today, Canada Ocean Racing announces 31-year-old Ryan Barkey as co-Skipper to Scott Shawyer for the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race. 

The 3rd edition of the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race is a 1200-mile offshore race, double-handed in IMOCA 60’s starting and finishing in Brest. With this announcement, the Canada Ocean Racing team is well positioned to complete the 1200-mile race as well as gaining valuable training miles in the process. 

Barkey from Richmond Hill, Ontario, brings a wealth of offshore experience in the Class 40 to the team. Barkey was the first ever Canadian to finish the Transat Jacques Vabre in a Class 40 in 2021. His expertise and skills will be a valuable addition to the team as the duo prepare for this offshore sprint race. 

Scott Shawyer, the team’s skipper & principal, said, “I am thrilled to have fellow Canadian Ryan onboard as our co-skipper for the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race. We have done plenty of sailing together now and we are a great fit as a team. We cannot wait to get across the start line in Brest.”  

Barkey expressed his excitement about the upcoming race, saying, “The Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race is a great IMOCA race, and I am thrilled to be lining up against some great teams. I’m looking forward to work alongside Scott and the rest of the team to achieve our goals for this race and set us up for a great start to the season.” 

The Canada Ocean Racing team is currently preparing for the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race in their home base of Gosport, UK and will in a few days depart with Barkey at the helm to head to the start in France.  

For more information about Canada Ocean Racing and the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, please contact: 

General enquires: hello@canadaoceanracing.com 

Partnerships: Emma@canadaoceanracing.com 

Press: Paddy@5west.co.uk