Spirit of the Nation:

Canadian Ocean Racing Launches Tour

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC — 11 April 2015 On Saturday, April 11, Elder Audrey Rivers of the Squamish Nation blessed Open 60 racing yacht O Canada for the new team’s journey ahead. After a month of refitting, Canadian Ocean Racing prepares to depart Mosquito Creek Marina in North Vancouver and begin its 3-month Launch Tour, culminating at the Toronto Pan Am Games in July.

The team is led by Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year, Eric Holden, who aims to build the sport of offshore racing in Canada. Holden is the first Canadian in history to win a round the world race; he sets up the Canadian Ocean Racing program to not only support his next round the world venture, but also mentor the next generation of Canadian ocean racers in the team’s Aspiring Offshore Athletes (AOA) program.

The team’s Launch Tour brings together 4 AOAs from across the country (BC, AB, ON, NS), who will train with Holden as they take O Canada on long ocean passages: through to the Panama Canal and St. Lawrence River, all to reach Toronto for the Pan Am Games July 2015. Later this year, Holden will begin a series of transatlantic races, ultimately preparing him for the solo, nonstop, round the world, Vendee Globe 2016 race.

Committed to Canada

Canada Ocean Racing’s mission is to represent the best talent and brands Canada has to offer on the world’s stage. The team’s Open 60 racing yacht O Canada was built in Canada and is an emblem of national pride. Canadian Ocean Racing is committed to working with fellow Canadian organizations to promote Made in Canada around the world.

At O Canada’s blessing, the team proudly announced its Launch Tour partners, Ra Energy Foods & Q Energy. Q Energy cofounders, Jason May and his wife Katie, are experienced sailors themselves and are happy that their product can support a program that promotes offshore racing in Canada.

“Our product is made right here in Vancouver, so we know exactly what goes into Q Energy. I want all athletes who drink Q to have a healthy energy boost they can trust,” said Jason when he visited the team on O Canada this past Thursday. Both Q Energy and Ra Energy are proudly produced in Canada and are perfect partners for the Canadian Ocean Racing team.

“Ra Energy is honoured to provide a nutritional boost to the Canadian Ocean Racing Team. Go Canada!” says Carl Svangtun, founder of Ra Energy Foods, a hemp-based seed mix. “Ra delivers slow release complex carbohydrates for sustained long-lasting energy, which is perfect to meet the nutritional needs of offshore racers.”

Onboard the Open 60 racing yacht O Canada, there is no galley, but rather a single gas burner to boil barely a liter of water — leaving few dietary options outside of freeze dried meals. The Ra Energy mix will add extra protein, iron, calcium and fibre to the team’s diet and certainly some needed texture.

“Ocean racing is a really demanding sport; what we put into our body is what goes into powering the boat. Having Ra Energy and Q Energy for the Launch Tour will keep the crew happy and healthy through the long passages on our way from Vancouver to Toronto,” said Morgen Watson, Operations Manager and Crew for Canadian Ocean Racing.

The Spirit of the Nation, Celebration on Water’s event venue vessel, aptly hosts the boat blessing Saturday, providing all attendees a great view over O Canada during the ceremony. Guests included Lana Eagle (ED, Industry Council for Aboriginal Business), RVYC Commodores, and members of the Squamish Nation, who all gathered to witness the launch of Canada’s latest adventure.

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Press Contact

Meg Reilly, PR & Partnerships Manager

mreilly@canadianoceanracing.com

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 launched its Aspiring Offshore Althetes Program in March 2015 in which young Canadian sailors have the opportunity to be mentored and trained by Eric Holden on various offshore passages onboard O Canada. Visit www.canadianoceanracing.com for more information.

Q Energy

Q Energy is a healthy sport performance and energy drink made in Vancouver BC at an NSF Certified for Sport facility. Q Energy is named for Quercetin – the unique ingredient that makes Q Energy naturally awesome. Quercetin is an antioxidant found in fruits, plants and vegetables of all sorts that helps deliver energy at a cellular level. Quercetin shares the anti-inflammatory and immune system support properties of other antioxidants, but studies have also shown that it can provide energy by increasing the body’s natural ability to convert calories into energy. Q does not rely on high levels of sugar or caffeine and Q contains only natural ingredients. Not a quick fix or a short-cut- Q is the healthy choice for better energy.

Ra Energy

Ra Energy is a Canadian-made organic seed mix blended with shelled hemp, unhulled sesame, sprouted buckwheat, brown flax and chia. Ra delivers slow release complex carbohydrates for sustained long-lasting energy. The idea is, you simply add a tablespoon or so of Ra Energy to everything you eat for all the fuel you need for your active lifestyle. It can be eaten on its own, sprinkled on or mixed into any food. It’s all-natural, 100% organic, raw and unprocessed, and it is a source of protein, iron, calcium and fibre.