The skippers
Eric Holden is the first Canadian ocean sailor. As the winning skipper in the Clipper Round the World Race, Eric became the first Canadian skipper to win a round the world race.
He has extensive experience in ocean racing having participated in numerous international races including the Sydney-Hobart, Fasnet Race and Newport-Bermuda. He is also an excellent skipper of ocean races as he won the Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race and finished 2nd e of the Maxi Transatlantic. But also of offshore racing with a 2 e place in the Sydney-Hobart and a victory in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race.
Eric Holden also has a degree in meteorology and holds a Captain's 200 certificate. Prior to becoming an offshore racing specialist, he was a member of the Canadian National Sailing Team in the Tornado class. In the past, he has also been a Young Canadian Laser Champion and Byte World Champion.
By founding Canadian Ocean Racing, Eric hopes to advance the interest and commitment to ocean racing in Canada, both by participating in prestigious sailing races and by sharing his experience with the next generation of sailors.
Morgen Watson is the Director of Operations for Canadian Ocean Racing and a crew member. An avid outdoor adventurer, he has logged over 60,000 nautical miles offshore and served as a watch leader aboard Henri Lloyd.
He won the 2013-2014 Clipper Round the World Race and has spent the last year with Eric Holden, who is training him on ocean racing. In the fall of 2014, Holden and Watson began making plans for their next adventure. And so Canadian Ocean Racing was born.
As an aspiring ocean racing skipper, Morgen Watson is a member of the Canadian Ocean Racing team and works on training and boat design. He hopes to one day gain enough experience to become Eric Holden's co-skipper.
Even though he started late in sailing, it has become a real passion for him. His first experience at sea, at the age of 18, was spending a year on the SY Fréderic Chopin, sailing around the Atlantic. Watson went on to attend the University of Victoria, while still sailing, and graduated with a degree in Economics.
The boat
Technical specifications
| Class | Imoca |
| Sail number | CAN 60 |
| Architect | Owen Clarke |
| Job site | Spirit of Canada |
| Year of launch | 2006 |
| Length | 17,9 m |
| Width | 5,60 m |
| Upwind sail area | 375 m2 |
| Sail area downwind | 540 m2 |
| Home port | Toronto |
| Source of energy production on board | Yanmar Diesel Engine |
