Part of this initiative includes STEM programs which will teach youth all about the weather, navigation, life monitoring systems as well as how the boat works. They will also be working with The Magenta Project (an advocacy organization that raises awareness for women involved with the performance sailing), sea cadets and local yacht clubs to build a community around this campaign.

We got a chance to speak with Scott to find out more.

What does it take to compete in the Vendée Globe and why is it so tough? What kinds of preparation does it require?

I would argue the Vendee Globe as the toughest sporting competition on the planet because you’re completely alone, in a non-stop race around the world for 3-4 months, battling the elements. There’s no other competition that tests your physical and mental stamina and endurance like the Vendee Globe.

The rules are simple, you take everything you need, you can’t step foot on land and can’t take any assistance, and once you leave France you have to get back on your own. The preparation however, well that’s another story! I’m taking the next 6 years to prepare and learn everything I need- from experience to safety and technical protocols, 2028 is just the right amount of time. It’s also not just about the end goal, it’s about the journey for me. I’m starting out as a true novice and hope to come out of this as the first Canadian to complete the race! Training started with my first transatlantic crossing this past summer- it was thrilling to say the least, when you’re faced with swells of 4 meter waves. Beyond spending time on the water working on my sailing skills I’m also working on a number of mental tools to deal with anxiety, isolation and even sea sickness.

What has been your toughest race to date?

At this point, I’m an amateur sailor. I have sailed dinghies and small keel boats since I was a kid, but this is a new realm for me. I am entering my first double handed race in the IMOCA early next year. From there, I’m going to enter a few of the doublehanded and solo IMOCA Globe series races leading up to Vendee Globe 2024 so I get accustomed to the fleet and the competition before it starts to count.

Tell us about some of the ways you are engaging youth and introducing them to sailing.

When I was eight years old, I developed my passion for sailing- I used to sail dinghies at my family’s cottage. Before I knew it, I was sailing catamarans and even competing on Antrim 27 sports boats.

Because of my exposure to sailing as a child, I can confidently say that I have found my life’s passion. I want to provide the same experiences for other children and inspire the next generation to take on their own adventure. We offer young people the opportunity to step onboard the IMOCA 60 yacht and understand the opportunities available to them. For example, we will invite students to attend boat tours and STEM sessions as an after-school activity. I have always been passionate about investing in children it’s one of the reasons why I co-authored the “Go Outside Activity Challenge Book” which encourages children to engage in outdoor exploration.

Where will the Canada Ocean Racing team be based and where will they train?

We will train mainly out of Europe. Most of the races in the series leading up to the Vendee Globe start in France, so it makes geographic sense for us to be there. It is also not currently practical for us to train out of Canada, but we’d love to do this once the infrastructure is in place to service a racing boat likes ours.

Our long-term goal is that the team is based out of Canada and that we — even if the boat is not physically here — will be working with organization to develop the skills required to work in an ocean racing team.

How can youth get involved with the various programs being offered?

We have engaged with a number of youth programs during our time in Canada this year and we will continue to do this. These range from very enthusiastic sea cadets to university sailing teams and youth sailors from local sailing clubs. Each group was given an in-depth technical tour of the boat. When we set up the team, we realized that we needed to work hard to develop and inspire the next generation, to show them that there are real careers in a team like ours, it’s not all about being a sailor – we also need engineers, riggers, painters, social media, designers, finance and many other roles. Sailing brings to life many of the science, math’s and environmental subjects and it’s also great for your geography! For example, how do you get a 60-foot race boat from the Atlantic to Toronto? What are the forces at work on sailing boat? How does the carbon cycle work in the ocean? These are just a few of the topics on offer.

Whilst we were here in Toronto we also ran a session for the Magenta Project which champions getting more females into our sport, a group of 8 female sailors spent two days with us and they took part in workshops on rigging, weather, sponsorship and spent a day out training with us in over 25 knots of wind!

How did you team up with Alex Thomson? How did the relationship come about?

I’m looking to build a successful business that thrives long after I’ve raced, so who better to get onboard than a legend like Alex Thomson, who has run a very professional organization in this field for over 20 years. I do want to fast track and Alex has completed 5x vendee globes which is more than half of the Vendee Globes that have existed! Alex’s team are what many would consider the most successful, long running IMOCA team in the world. There is so much to putting together a campaign like this that I thought it would be good to get a head start and learn from the best so I have contracted Alex and his team to help us build a team for Canada. Our goal is to not only be successful in the Vendee Globe 2028 but to build and operate a professionally run IMOCA program here in Canada for many years to come.

The post Canada Ocean Racing Aiming to Compete in the Vendee Globe appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

After putting a fundraiser together at his local club and managing to scrape together enough money, he traveled to train in Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. There he has been training with an international group at a world renowned laser class training centre for the last 8 months, where he has been able to train all year round due to the mild winter of 12 degrees celsius and the reliable winds. “It’s a really incredible experience”, he said.

“My goal is to compete for Canada at the Summer Olympics, and my ultimate goal is to win a medal for Canada at the olympics”, he said as we discussed what the road to the Olympics would look like for him. In the laser class, boats are single handed with one sailor, and thus he needs to first qualify himself to represent Canada at the games, as only 1 person from every country who qualifies is given the opportunity to go.

For athletes, the course of Covid-19 regulations has taken a significant toll on their wellbeing and competitive opportunities. Over the past year, athletes have been put through the ringer as they have had to deal with the tempestuous nature of the virus, with their dreams, goals and training hanging in the balance. “It’s a really tough thing. In the past week alone there’ve been 2 events that have been cancelled and then one of them was reinstated and then cancelled again and so everything is completely turbulent and nobody had any idea of what was happening even up to a week beforehand”, James described. No matter the myriad of assumptions or predictions one makes, the fact of the matter is that at this point nobody can be certain of what is going to happen.

To stay on track, James is trying to focus solely on what is in his control, and working on improving himself in his sport so that he is at full capacity when his next chance to compete opens up. With all the events being cancelled, it can be extremely disappointing. The rollercoaster of emotions that comes with getting your hopes up and then being let down again can be emotionally draining. “The position is that whatever happens happens and I need to not waste any energy on things that I can’t control”, he said. For James, the controlables that he as an athlete had identified are how hard he is training, the people he is surrounded by, and where he’s training. “As for the things that are outside of my control, there is no point wasting any energy on them”. For many young athletes, this approach can be hard to comprehend because their sport and the spirit of competition is what they’ve dedicated the majority of their lives to thus far, but in response James says, “it’s tough but its part of the game”.

Unfortunately, Canada as a nation in the laser class has missed out on qualification for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. However, James is trying to stay positive and find the silver linings. He described that this missed opportunity “has actually been a blessing in disguise”, lifting a weight of stress from his shoulders. Due to his young age, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, though theoretically in the cards, were never his main goal. He felt very much an outsider to them, and his main goals have always been more focused towards the 2024 Paris Olympics. “This has kind of allowed me to ignore the all white noise, the stuff that doesn’t matter as much”, he said.

Looking after mental health for young athletes with the disruption to sporting qualifiers and events has been an ongoing journey. “Nobody ever said it is gonna be easy being an athlete, having so many things out of your control is something that takes a toll on everybody”, said James. “I’m kind of a person who buries himself in their work a bit, so my philosophy is that if I’m keeping busy here, so I’m on the water everyday and I’m in the gym and working on fundraising, then I just keep so busy that you don’t have any bad thoughts come to the front of your mind”

At this time, all athletes are able to do at this time is to continue training to hope that all of their hard work will be able to be put to use when the sporting events come to fruition. “I’ve been training here for 8 months now, and I’ve obviously made a lot of big improvements to my game, and I’m a competitive guy so I’m excited to get back out there and show people what I can do and the progress that I’ve made. It’s draining being out there and it sometimes feels like you’re beating your head against the wall, but you’ve just gotta trust the process and know that you’re making gains and that when the time comes all the hard work that you’ve been putting in is gonna show”, he expressed. Throughout this time, It’s important for athletes to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a year of stalling and standstills where it may feel as though nothing has improved. “You need something that you’re working towards and that will keep you motivated and make it all worth it at the end of the day”, James said.

To help fund James’ journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics, visit his website jamesjuhasz.com or windathletes.ca/jamesjuhasz, where all donations are tax deductible.

The post Canadian sailor James Juhasz eyes post-pandemic competition appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Toronto photographer Francisco Silva sent us this great shot of boats sailing on Lake Ontario in front of Toronto. Check out his page for more photos from his adventures.

To submit your photos to be featured on our website, visit our 500px group.

The post Sailing in Toronto by Photographer Francisco Silva appeared first on Toronto Guardian.