Vendee Globe Skipper Interview - Derek Hatfield

Maybe he's not quite like a phoenix from the ashes, but Derek Hatfield has nonetheless resurrected Algimouss Spirit of Canada and gotten back in the Vendee Globe.  After a smack-down storm right out of the gate, Derek was among several in the fleet to turn back to Les Sables d'Olone for emergency, last-chance repairs, but he's one of only four so far who've been able to get back onto the course, and he's now headed South in a hurry.

 

Calm and competent, Derek has a real respect for the sea, as well as a respect for his fellow sailors.  He's a detail-oriented skipper, who plans to sleep on deck and give 100% of himself to the race.  Though a self-described competitive spirit, Derek is a realist. He isn't new to solo ocean work, but this is his first Vendee, and he's bound and determined to make it around in good standing, if not necessarily to the podium.

 

Derek is the only Canadian sailing in this edition of the Vendee Globe.  In fact there are only two North Americans total (Rich Wilson being the other).  But Derek isn't just any citizen of the Great White North, he's a former officer of the RCMP.  That's right, Derek was a Mountie, and YachtPals is privileged to feature Derek (Do-Right?) Hatfield as our latest Sailor in the Spotlight.

 

Derek spoke with us from the floats at Les Sables d'Olone, before the race start.

 

YP: It's a pleasure to speak with you Derek, we have a lot of readers in Canada who will be happy to learn more about you.

Derek: Well that's great! You know we're struggling here with French, so it's great to talk to somebody that speaks good English. [laughing]

 

YP: Well, I appreciated the.. uh, complement? [laughing] So, many of our YachtPals enjoy cruising up in Canada.  I've spent many Summers sailing in British Columbia myself. Were are you from in Canada?

Derek: I'm from the East side - I grew up in New Brunswick, and spent a lot of time on the east coast. Then I had a career in the RCMP in Toronto, and now Halifax is home - basically.

 

YP: Right, I heard you were with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). How did you go from being a Mountie to a professional sailor?

Derek: Well, growing up in New Brunswick, and doing a lot of boating, and water skiing and things - hanging around the water. Then going into the RCMP, of course I continued with sailing, and all that type of thing, and always wanted to do some serious sailing but... You know, as a career, in the RCMP, you go through a lot of...things... Well, I continued to sail, and then one day I just said, "that's enough, I'm going to go off and do this race around the world."

So that all came to a point in 2002, when I quit everything, sold everything, and went off to do the Around Alone [Now called the Velux 5 Oceans].

YP: So, when did you start sailing? And when was your first trip offshore?

Derek: Well, I was always hanging around in boats, but I never started sailing in earnest until I was about 21 or so. But I didn't really start sailing offshore, or doing anything like that, until much later, 30, 35 or so. A neighbor of mine in Toronto took me sailing for the first time, and he was smitten by the bug of going offshore.

He and I went out sailing on Lake Ontario, and we talked incessantly about going sailing the seven seas and all that sort of thing - he kind of got me interested in that.  And immediately I was interested in single-handed racing, because the whole thing intrigued me. You know - doing all of this by YOURSELF, and coming back.

 

YP: So, would you say you are attracted to the competitive nature of solo yacht racing, the feeling of self sufficiency you get alone on the sea, or something else?

Derek: Yes, I have always been competitive. Doing a lot of different sports, and playing games - either individual type sports or team sports. I'm very competitive by nature, so when I started sailing and sailboat racing of course it came right to the front. I raced alot with teams, with crews and things - the only way you can get any better is sailing with people better than yourself, so that's what I did.

Then the single-handed side of it is all about being prepared you know? Being able to handle adversity, problems, breakages and fixing the boat. Being mechanically minded - knowing where the line is, and knowing when not to cross the line. I really get into that, managing the risk side of single-handed racing.

 

YP: Speaking of knowing when not to cross the line, are you married Derek?

Derek: [laughing] Yes I am - and I have kids, actually I have two families. Two older boys, that are now 35 and 33, one living in Japan, and the other living in Toronto. And then Patianne and I have a young family - a four year old and a two month old.

 

YP: So what does Patianne think about you sailing off around the world while she's stuck at home with the kids?

Derek: Well, it's one of those things you know... This type of thing is all about support from the family - because it would never happen without it. I mean, some  skippers find the money, budget, and the boat, and go off spending weeks sailing in the race, and calling home. And if the family at home are not having a good time, and are not agreeing with all this, it won't go very well, sooner or later the skipper will turn around and come back, because of the guilt. So you REALLY need that support from the family.

Patianne is an avid sailor herself, an avid racer, she aspires to doing single-handed racing like this, so she understands what it takes. She understands that she is giving a lot of herself now, to get me where I am, so hopefully I can reciprocate with that.

 

YP: What do you like to do when you are not sailing?

Derek: The family is the only thing you know. I enjoy the young ones, because they have kind of given me a second lease on life. I'm 56 years old you know... So, it's different. The first family, I was working, and doing all kind of things, and missed the whole raising of the family. So, now I'm really enjoying that.

 

 

YP: As the only Canadian in the Vendee Globe, do you feel you are representing Canada?

Derek: Well, I'd like to think so, because I love to wave the Canadian flag. You know, I grew up in New Brunswick, and joined the RCMP, and wore that red coat for a while, and was really proud of that.  And for me, it's one of those things, representing Canada... Canadians are very kind of laid back - very strong people, but laid back - they aren't really pro-active in waving the flag, and ra-ra type stuff. So, I like to raise that bar a little bit, and... That's why the boat is called Spirit of Canada, because there is so much support from home, and I'd like to pay that back to them.  You know, the 6,000 people with their names on the hull of Spirit of Canada are the people who got us here, so it's really an individual, grass roots, type of thing. 

 

YP: So Derek, this isn't your first around the world challenge, right? Why did you choose sail around the world again in the Vendee Globe?

Derek: Yeah, I did the Around Alone in 2002 [Derek finished 3rd in his class]. Once I finished the Around Alone I thought: well jeez! We got so much attention in Canada, and so much support, that we have to really see what we can do against the best in the world - and of course they are all here! Around Alone is one thing, but when you start talking about the Vendee Globe, and the sponsor supported teams, and they're all here...

This edition of the Vendee Globe is the biggest in history, and probably will be the biggest for a long time. Because we don't know where the IMOCA fleet will go from here, but it is at its pinnacle. 20 brand new Open 60 boats! We were counting the dock the other day, and we estimated over two hundred million dollars worth of hardware sitting on the dock! It's just an unbelievable turnout - an unbelievable edition of the race!

 

YP: So, during that Around Alone race in 2002, you had a bit of trouble rounding Cape Horn. Isn't that right?

Derek: Yes - got into a hurricane situation there and got pitchpoled.  Right as I was rounding Cape Horn - about 35 miles from the Horn.  Broke the mast, and had to stop of course. The Around Alone allows you to stop and fix the boat, so I went in and fixed the boat - managed to get back in the race four weeks later.

 

YP: And have you been around Cape Horn since?

Derek: I haven't, no. I'm looking forward to seeing that rock!

 

YP: Is that feeling like your biggest hurdle - rounding Cape Horn?

Derek: It definitely is. Because you head south from here, and it's all fine going until you get into the southern ocean. Then it's 6 weeks of hard grueling sailing, across the southern ocean, from Cape Town over to Cape Horn. Then when you exit Cape Horn, turn left there, and head north again... It's like... I suspect it is like getting to the top of Mount Everest. You know, you're at the top of the mountain, you still have a long way to go, and a dangerous part to go, but at least you're going home now - you're going down the mountain. So, Cape Horn is like that. A lot can still happen from Cape Horn back to France, but at least you're going in the right direction, and conditions get better as you go.

 

YP: So, It seems like most think it's the Southern Oceans that will make or break the leaders, even though it's that last stretch where the real race for the podium exists.

Derek: Everybody will be going fast in the south, and then from Cape Horn to here it's upwind basically, and that's when things are wearing out and breaking down, and the leaders will be all at the front and that's where the podium finishers will be.  If you're not in fifth place or sixth place at Cape Horn, it'll be tough to get on the podium, for sure.

 

YP:  How are you feeling about your new boat [Algimouss Spirit of Canada]?  It was launched in 2006, I believe?

Derek:  Yes.  You know, these programs are all budget driven, and these boats are all about detail.  Detail, of course, costs lots of money, because you have to throw lots of labor at it, and unfortunately we don't have the budget of some of these other programs - most of these other programs.

So, I'm feeling very confident with the boat, and the design of the boat is perfect, but it's not up to the snuff of the latest 10 boats that are now launched in the last year or so.  They've gone to a different part of the rule, you know?  They've gone to much stronger, more powerful boats, and it'll be tough.

But, maybe that'll wear them out.  There's a theory that the more powerful boats will wear out the skipper much quicker.  It'll be interesting.  Boats like Saffran have come to my side of the rule, where they're really light, they're quite complicated, but they're light - different part of the rule.  So, we'll see.

 

YP:  And, really, all the newer boats are light when it comes to the construction, and I can't help but think that the newer, more complex boats are going to be at a disadvantage if they hit something, like happened in the Artemis Transat.

Derek:  Well, exactly.  Some of the best prepared boats won't make it around, because they hit something or they break something very small.  You know, we're hearing rumors here that some of the pundits say that 50% of the boats won't make it around, so-

 

YP:  [laughing] So this is how rumors get started!  I'm afraid we're responsible for that one, and that's because Mike Golding said it in our interview.  I think he's right, though.

Derek: Yeah, some of the boats are basically... well, they're taking a real shot at this because they're building the boats close to the limit.  Just finishing is not really the goal, they want to be on the podium.  So they built the boats very close to the limit, and some of them will break.  Of course, one of them will probably make it around and be first.

 

YP:  Since we're talking about breaking things out there, Robin Knox-Johnston told me that to be a good ocean racer, you need to be a good maintainer of the boat.

Derek:  I agree.  And that's why Ellen [Ellen MacArthur] is so successful.  She knows exactly where that line is - how close she can get to that line, and when to back off.  Anybody can push really hard, and won't go very far.  Knowing when to back off is the big issue, the real issue.

 

YP:  So how do you know when to back off?  Sam Davies said she doesn't listen to music, because she listens to her boat.

Derek: I'm like her, I don't carry any books, or have any videos aboard the boat, or any music or anything.  I'm just dealing with the boat all the time, 100% of the time.  I can sit on the deck for hours and hours and just watch the alternator and listen to the boat.  I don't get bored or anything, I'm just focusing on little edges and trims and little movements. 

The people watching videos and reading books, that's a crutch.  When the going gets tough, you want to go and stick your head in a book, when you should be doing something.

 

YP:  Well, in your case you don't like to go below much at all, don't you actually have a sleeping chair on deck?

Derek: So you can stay close to the action!  I like to sleep in my gear and be on deck.  Sometimes, when the going is really really tough, in big storms and things, I can't relax enough to go to sleep.  So I stay on deck a lot, and of course to stay on deck you want to be dry - or a little drier than normal, at least, 'cause these boats are really, really wet - So I built a chair, and a sleeping position on deck, so that I can just fall asleep in my foul weather gear on deck, and be ready for anything.

 

YP:  So, "ready for anything," what do you see as your biggest obstacle? 

Derek:  I worry about the smallest of details.  Like:  Fuel - contaminated fuel - and electricity and power, generators and things like that which can really knock you out, or at least knock your performance off.  You can have a really nasty small battery issue, or an issue with fuel or something, and immediately you're not in the game anymore, you're just going around.  It's the smallest of components that can change things for you, so those are the things I lay awake at night worrying about.  You can't stop in somewhere and get parts.

 

YP:  I want to make it clear to our readers that the fuel is for generating electricity with the engine or a genset, and not to motor the boat.

Derek:  Right, the transmission is sealed by the racing committee, so you can't run the propeller, but you can run the engine.  I also have a wind generator on board.  Now, some of the other teams have gone with solar panels and other things, and I'm taking a bit of a gamble here.  I'm not doing anything else other than the wind generator and the engine as a genset-type thing.

[The reason for Derek's return to Les Sables d'Olone is that his wind generator was broken during the first storm, and he felt he would be unable to compete unless he returned for repairs.]

 

YP:  Finally, I know your charity Earth Rangers is an environmental project for children.  What advice do you have for all the kids watching this race?

Derek:  To focus on goals, and work hard on those goals.  Anything is possible if you work very hard.

 

 - Kim Hampton exclusively for YachtPals.com

 

READ MORE ABOUT THE Vendée Globe or Derek Hatfield:

• Derek Hatfield (Derek's Profile Page - YachtPals, add Derek to your Buddy List)
• Spirit of Canada - Derek Hatfield (Derek's Boat Home Page for Algimouss Spirit of Canada)
• Vendee Globe (all news, blogs, and photos about the Vendee Globe)
• Sailor in the Spotlight - Loick Peyron
• Loick Peyron - A Candid Chat with the Jedi Master
• Vendee Globe Skipper in the Spotlight Interview - Dee Caffari
  
• Vendee Globe Skipper in the Spotlight Interview - Steve White
• Vendee Globe Skipper in the Spotlight Interview - Sam Davies
• Vendée Globe Skipper in the Spotlight - Mike Golding
• Vendée Globe Skipper in the Spotlight - Brian Thompson
• Vendée Globe Skipper in the Spotlight - Michel Desjoyeaux
• Vendee Globe 2008-2009 Start with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
• Vendée Globe Carnage - Crash, Dismast, Mechanical Problems - UPDATED
• Algimouss Spirit of Canada back in the Vendée Globe - Derek Hatfield
• Vendee Globe Group (read Vendee Globe News and communicate with the skippers at sea)

Video: Derek Hatfield sailing Spirit of Canada

Submitted By YachtPals on 17 Nov

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