News
2.13.26
From Gosport to Georgian Bay: The Scott’s 2026 Journey
2026 is a year in which we go deep on preparing Scott for life as a solo racing sailor. It will be shaped by preparation, training and competing.
•••
| Age | 54 (9/14/71) |
|---|---|
| Joined Imoca on | 2022 |
| Team | Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive |
| Base | Gosport (UK) |
| Partners | Danby, Baffin |
Scott Shawyer is the skipper and president of Canada Ocean Racing, an international ocean racing team dedicated to providing sailors of all ages with new experiences while promoting inclusion in the sport through charitable and corporate brand partners.
The Vendée Globe has never before been completed by a Canadian, a feat Scott hopes to accomplish in the 2028 edition of the race.
A successful businessman, Scott spent 26 years as president and CEO of JMP Solutions, an industrial technology company that provides engineering services and turnkey solutions. In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Scott contributed his expertise to the manufacture and production of a ventilator (V4C) to combat the virus. At the same time, he co-authored the Go Outside Activity Challenge Book, which encourages children to explore the outdoors through activity challenges. His philanthropic commitments are an integral part of his daily life and he funds various programs for local schools and Canadian universities.
A lifelong sailor, adventurer and athlete, Scott's passion for sailing began at the age of eight when he started sailing dinghies on Georgian Bay. He tried his hand at catamaran sailing and then racing keelboats, including an Antrim 27. Single-handed and short-handed sailing became his passion and although he fully recognised his status as an 'amateur' sailor, Scott concentrated on completing a comprehensive training programme, with the support of renowned offshore sailor Alex Thomson.
Scott's drive, energy, business acumen, sense of adventure, analytical mind and stamina are all fundamental elements that have led him to take on what will be his toughest challenge and become a skipper in the Vendée Globe.
After a first transatlantic race in 2022, Scott will join the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES circuit in 2023 by participating, with Ryan Barkey, in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race. During the Transat Jacques Vabre, Scott Shawyer and co-skipper Nick Moloney retire due to an incident aboard their IMOCA.
In 2024, Scott does not participate in the Vendée Globe but in the qualifying races, such as the New-York Vendée, where he finishes 22nd. At the end of the year, he announces that he will participate in The Ocean Europe with a crew flying the Canadian flag.
Following this announcement, Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive has unveiled its team for The Ocean Race Europe, consisting of Scott Shawyer, Pip Hare, Chris Pratt, Sébastien Marsset, and Brian Thompson.
| Name | CANADA OCEAN RACING - BE WATER POSITIVE |
|---|---|
| Sail number | CAN 80 |
| Architect | Guillaume Verdier |
| Construction | 2021, CDK Technologies |
| Former names | 11TH HOUR RACING TEAM - MĀLAMA, GROUPE DUBREUIL |
| Length | 18,28m |
| Beam | 5,85m |
| Draught | 4,50m |
| Weight | 9 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | NC |
| Downwind | NC |
2026 is a year in which we go deep on preparing Scott for life as a solo racing sailor. It will be shaped by preparation, training and competing.
•••This episode is a conversation with Scott Shawyer, the President and Skipper of the Canada Ocean Racing team, shortly after he and his team completed the 5,000+ mile Ocean Race Europe in their IMOCA 60 foiling ocean race…
•••After completing the longest leg of The Ocean Race Europe between Portsmouth and Cartagena, the fleet now prepares for a speedy sprint through the Mediterranean.
•••