Daniel Gaw, 20 year old sailor from Halifax, joins the Canadian Ocean Racing Aspiring Offshore Athletes program while studying Nautical Science at the Marine Institute in Newfoundland.
Daniel knew he had to become a part of Canadian Ocean Racing the moment he 
heard about it.
“It is exactly what I had discussed with parents, coaches, friends and mentors; precisely what Canada and our young sailors need to help achieve their offshore sailing aspirations.”
Currently enrolled in the Nautical Science program at the Marine Institute in Newfoundland, Daniel is taking time off to sail with Eric and the team. The Aspiring Offshore Athletes program allows Daniel to learn and apply advanced seamanship, navigation and watch-keeping — a perfect practicum for his degree.
“This trip gives a unique opportunity for someone in my field, in that it provides long offshore passages on a shorthanded yacht while also passing through the Panama and Great Lakes Basin lock systems, getting a feel for what will be expected in my career ahead.”
Growing up sailing on the Halifax harbour, Daniel first got the bug for offshore racing during the 2009 Convoy Cup, a local overnight coastal race. Since then, he has been racing yachts up and down the East Coast, including a 2012 Newport-Bermuda Race class win, and multiple deliveries.
Although a young sailor, Daniel has already logged nearly 10,000 nM and the whole Launch Tour will add another 8000. In the future, Daniel hopes to buy a Mini 6.50 and race it along the East Coast with a potential Trans-Atlantic campaign in the years to come.
“If I was going to break into the shorthanded IMOCA community, this was my chance. The opportunity to not only log incredible miles with a rock-solid team on an IMOCA 60, but also to learn from a hugely experienced skipper in Eric and learning first-hand how to sail with a small crew was too good to ignore, and I seized the opportunity as soon as it appeared.”
Follow Daniel’s updates from onboard O Canada on Twitter @HaliWinterr and Daniel Gaw Sailing on Facebook. Be sure to check out daily news from the team here.
