Scott Shawyer is preparing for the 2028 Vendée Globe, seeking to be the first person from Canada to finish the race. The Collingwood resident will sail solo and unassisted around the globe.
Overcoming the failures of 1996 and 2008
The Vendée Globe is not merely a test of navigation but a graveyard of ambition for North American sailors. As the report says,two Canadians have previously attempted the solo, non-stop circumnavigation, but neither reached the finish line in France. One sailor was lost at sea in 1996, and another was forced to retire in 2008 after a knockdown damaged his mast.
This history of failure creates a high-stakes backdrop for Scott Shawyer. By entering the 2028 race, Shawyer is attempting to pivot Canada's narrative from one of tragedy and retirement to one of completion. the race, which covers roughly 42,000 kilometres, is widely regarded as the most challenging sporting event on Earth due to its isolation and brutality.
The 100-foot mast and the 'coffin bunk'
To tackle this journey, Scott Shawyer is utilizing an IMOCA race boat, a carbon-fibre vessel measuring 60 feet by 18 feet. According to the source, the boat features a mast approximately 100 feet tall—comparable to a nine-storey building—and a sail area that would cover an NBA basketball court. The vessel is designed for speed, capable of hitting 40 knots, which is roughly 75 kilometres per hour.
Life aboard the IMOCA is intentionally primitive to save weight. Scott Shawyer will operate the boat manually using a pedestal grinder and sleep in a cramped space he describes as a "coffin bunk." There are no luxury amenities; the sailor will rely on a "bucket and chuck it" system for a toilet and a small water maker to desalinate ocean water for drinking.
Burning 7,000 calories in the Southern Ocean
The physical toll of the Vendée Globe is immense, particularly when navigating the Southern Ocean. Scott Shawyer expects to burn between 5,000 and 7,000 calories per day while battling sub-zero temperatures and waves that regularly reach 40 to 50 feet in height. To sustain this energy expenditure, he will rely on lightweight, stable freeze-dried foods.
Mental fortitude is as critical as physical stamina. While Scott Shawyer will have Starlink on board to maintain contact with family, he notes that these calls can paradoxically increase feelings of loneliness. The contrast between a lively conversation and the "deafening" silence of the open ocean is one of the primary psychological hurdles he must overcome during the three-to-four-month voyage.
The funding gap for Canada Ocean Racing
Despite his methodical preparation—which includes engineering spreadsheets and psychology-based stamina training—significant questions remain regarding the financial viability of the project . The report mentions that Shawyer has frequently been told that no one would sponsor a Canadian sailor for such an undertaking.
It remains unclear who the current primary backers of Canada Ocean Racing are or how the high costs of maintaining a carbon-fibre IMOCA boat will be covered over the next four years. While Scott Shawyer has introduced his boat to friends and family in Collingwood, the source does not specify if a formal corporate sponsorship structure is in place to support the 2028 campaign.
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