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9:44 PM Tue 30 Dec 2008 GMT
 | | 'Derek Hatfield'
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When Canadian Derek Hatfield started his circumnavigation in Les Sables D'Olonne in France on November 9 this year, he was a grand prix racing sailor. Now, just a few short weeks later, he is a 'normal' sailor, doing what he can to get his yacht Spirit of Canada back to port, the hard way, with a damaged mast.
The 56-year-old solo Canadian yachtsman's boat was badly damaged when it was up-ended in heavy seas in the Southern Ocean 900 nautical miles below Hobart in the Southern Ocean, while participating in the Vendee Globe round world solo race.
But it's not his capacity as a racing sailor that takes him out of the 'ordinary'. Hatfield is no stranger to the sea and its capriciousness, and 'ordinary' he's not.
The former Canadian Mountie has already completed one solo round world race in which he was pitch-polled and dismasted. That time it occurred off the coast of Cape Horn, and he then spent five weeks repairing the boat, before getting back into the race. This was a boat he had spent five years building with the assistance of friends and family.
In an email, Hatfield said he was below deck when his yacht, Algimouss Spirit of Canada, was up-ended.
'I was exhausted and laying in my bunk and crash, the boat went over and I ended up on the ceiling with all kinds of articles whizzing past me,' he wrote.
'The boat came upright immediately and the carnage inside was immediate.'
Hatfield said he rushed on deck and 'my heart sank' when he saw the damage.
A successful competitor and ocean sailor, Hatfield was also successful in his career. After his stint with the Mounties, he joined the Toronto Stock Exchange as head of a team of compliance auditors, later being put in charge of regulatory requirements in the banking sector.
As he makes his slow way back northward towards Hobart, his progress will be monitored by his two sons Devin and Aron. And does he need assistance?
'Definitely not!' was his reactions when asked by rescue officials. He has rejected all offers of outside assistance and will make his slow jury-rigged way northwards to Hobart. With 900 miles to go it's going to be many days before Hobart's yachting fraternity will have the chance to welcome this independent sailor.
by Nancy Knudsen
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Sailing
