Alex Thomson Racing are now focused on deploying their skills and experience to help other teams like Canada Ocean Racing succeed. The new IMOCA team set up by Canadian Scott Shawyer will compete in the solo, non-stop round the world race, the Vendée Globe in 2028, aiming to become the first Canadian to complete the pinnacle event in offshore sailing, widely regarded as the toughest sporting challenge on the planet.
Backed by Alex and his team, Shawyer’s campaign aims to lead and inspire the development of offshore sailing in Canada. A core team of Canadian sailors will manage the day to day running of the yacht’s technical performance while the team embarks on a rigorous schedule of offshore training and race preparation.
Excited about the project Shawyer said “I know that taking on the Vendée Globe will be the biggest challenge of my life. I’ve joined forces with one of the best in the business, Alex Thomson, and like him, I have always been competitive and driven. With the launch of Canada Ocean Racing, we have three clear objectives: to become the first Canadian to complete the Vendée Globe, to develop the sport of offshore sailing within Canada, and to build a successful business in the sport. We are a proud and adventurous nation and it’s time for Canada to compete on the world stage in singlehanded offshore sailing”.
Shawyer, a successful businessman with a background in automation solutions, is focused on not only making history by becoming the first Canadian to complete the Vendée Globe, but his aim is to create a Canadian venture that is economically viable and provides an ongoing platform for the continued development of offshore sailing in Canada. Thomson and his team bring over 20 years’ experience, renowned for bringing the Vendée Globe to an international audience, delivering both on and off the water, and for their standout sponsorship and marketing campaigns for global brands such as HUGO BOSS, Nokia and Mercedes-Benz.
Thomson said, “When I met Scott, I knew that together we could continue my goal of taking this incredible sport to a wider international audience. I am delighted that together we are launching the newly founded, Canada Ocean Racing team. The Vendée Globe and solo offshore sailing has been such an important part of my life and is so much more than a sport. It inspires and engages so many people, and I think to bring the sport to a relatively new market like Canada will help to continue the growth and internationalisation of the sport. Scott has all the raw ingredients required to sail solo around the world, and together with his business experience, drive, and commitment, we are going to create a long term and meaningful campaign, and hopefully have some fun on the way.”