'Bostik' Jean-Marie Liot - SailingOne

Phil Paxton has officially thrown his captain's hat in the ring to become the only Canadian competitor in the first ever SolOceans®solo sailing competition.

The race is set to begin on October 25, 2009 and will feature a select group of the most skilled solo competitors from around the world.

What makes this race unique is that all competitors pilot identical high-tech Veolia Oceans® sailing crafts, each built to the same exacting specifications (including hull, equipment and sails). This makes SolOceansthe first true 'equal opportunity' around-the-world competition.

Shortly after signing the contract, Paxton had the opportunity to sail from France to New York aboard the first craft built for the race, Bostik. The 16m Bostikis identical to the vessel that Paxton will be sailing in the competition.Paxton crossed the Atlantic on Bostikin July as part of a crew that included Alexia Barrier and Yann Clavier of France.

It was an eventful trip of 3,100 nautical miles (5,750 km). Bostikand her crew faced rough seas and strong headwinds, which caused the boat to depress three times during this harrowing stretch.

'After signing the entry papers and then sailing Bostik, it's all starting to feel real. It is an amazing boat that we put to the test in some extremely difficult conditions. The voyage provided a dramatic insight into the challenges we'll be facing as competitors,' Paxton reveals.

A lifelong sailor, Phil Paxton embarked the first of several solo oceanic voyages in 1979. He's crossed every ocean at least once, and even spent two years sailing the South Pacific with his family – home schooling his children onboard. SolOceanswill represent the first time Paxton has attempted to sail solo around the world – a feat requiring unimaginable skill, determination and perseverance.

Now that he has signed the registration papers, the first leg of the journey begins for Phil Paxton. He is currently negotiating with undisclosed parties interested in coming aboard as sponsors. In fact, all competing crafts are named after their title sponsor, as is the case with Bostik. Bostik is a global leader in adhesives and sealants for industrial and consumer applications.