21 December 2015 — This weekend, Canadian Ocean Racing had to make the tough decision to retire from the Transat Saint Barths due to keel damage of the team’s open 60 O Canada. While two other IMOCA teams suffered from keel issues of their own, O Canada was unable to recover and her competitors left her behind in the Azores as the Transat Saint Barths finishes this week.
Although the full extent of the problem with the keel has not been ascertained, it appears to be good news that there is no observable metal fatigue. Surface level assessments concluded that the keel issues are likely a bearing problem rather than a structural failure. A full assessment cannot be made until O Canada can be lifted at the start of the new year.
Despite his determination to finish the race, Skipper Eric Holden weighed the risks and resources, and concluded that it would be impossible to finish the Transat Saint Barths. Given the uncertainty of the keel issue and the atrocious weather between the Azores and the finish line in Port La Foret France, the only sensible option was to stay put in Horta. 
“Obviously I am very disappointed to have had to retire from the race. We had overcome so many hurdles in this challenging race, yet the problem with the keel was one that we could not overcome,” said Holden.
The shore team for SAFRAN, a fellow competitor that also suffered keel issues, spent some time with Holden in Horta checking out the potential problem with O Canada’s keel. SAFRAN’s team believed that the issue is a so-called “keel plate bushing” for the axel that the keel pivots on in order to swing from side to side. If this bushing is worn down by even a few millimeters, it could allow the keel to swing fore and aft slightly. This sort of movement gets worse under the load of waves and could cause further damage to the keel joint, eventually breaking something significant and in the worst case tear the bottom of the boat off around the keel.
The only way to know for certain what the issue is, and to properly fix it, is to pull the boat out of the water and remove the keel. The problem is there is no lift equipment big enough for the job at the marina where O Canada currently resides in Horta. The team is working on a solution, but in the meantime the boat will remain in the Azores until the new year. Owen Clarke, designer of O Canada and many other open 60 racing boats, are being consulted to see if it would be safe enough to move O Canada to Europe with a full crew and favourable weather window to then undergo repairs.
But fans of Canadian Ocean Racing should not be discouraged. The team is determined to get O Canada race ready for her next solo race in May, the NYC-Vendee Race that preludes the much-anticipated Vendee Globe Race. Holden is also already back in the saddle, currently on his way to Australia to serve as navigator for Primitive Cool in the renowned Syndey-Hobart Race. Fans can follow Holden and his Sydney-Hobart team’s performance during this year’s race starting 26 December.
Canadian Ocean Racing is determined to sail on despite a disappointing close to 2015, and plans on making the most of 2016 as they prepare for the Vendee Globe Race at the end of 2016. With keel issues and a damaged sail wardrobe, the team needs to raise at least $100K to compete, but having already raised that much this year, the team is both hopeful and grateful for the generosity of their fans.
The Canadian Ocean Racing team will be at both the Toronto and Vancouver Boatshows in January, meeting fans, hosting seminars and several fundraising initiatives. The team will then reunite with O Canada in February to prepare her for another intense racing season ahead.
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Press Contact
Meg Reilly, PR & Partnerships Manager
mreilly@canadianoceanracing.com
+1 908 294 2222
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, built in Canada, for an offshore training program and is taking her back on the racing circuit to compete in the IMOCA races, like the Vendee Globe.
The mission of COR is to raise the profile of Canadian offshore racing while building a program to develop the next generation offshore sailors. The team launched its Aspiring Offshore Athletes (AOA) 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.
Vendee Globe Race
The Vendee Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. The 2016-2017 edition is planned to start on Sunday, 6 November 2016.
As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race, the race is a serious test of individual endurance and is regarded by many as the ultimate in ocean racing. www.vendeeglobe.org
IMOCA
Founded in 1991 and recognised by ISAF (International Sailing Federation) since 1998, IMOCA is the class association, which takes care of 60-foot Open monohulls (18.28 metres). With more than twenty skippers signed up, its championship includes two round the world races, a round Europe race and several ocean races. The IMOCA class aims to make ocean racing more international and it brings together ideas about competitions, innovation, human adventure and safety.
