Canada Ocean Racing Acquires Foiling IMOCA Yacht for Scott Shawyer's Vendée Globe Campaign
by Canada Ocean Racing 7 May 05:01 BST
Canada Ocean Racing acquires Groupe Dubreuil for Scott Shawyer's Vendée Globe Campaign © Martin Viezzer / Groupe Dubreuil Sailing Team
Canada Ocean Racing is proud to announce the acquisition of a current generation foiling IMOCA 60 - formerly known as Groupe Dubreuil and originally 11th Hour Racing - Malama.
The boat is renamed Emira IV and the purchase marks a bold new chapter for Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer and his team.
This cutting-edge yacht boasts an impressive race record, including a win in The Ocean Race 2023 under Charlie Enright and a hard-fought third place in the 2024 Vendée Globe with Sébastien Simon at the helm.
Now, it is set to carry Canada Ocean Racing and its Be Water Positive initiative as Scott prepares for one of the toughest solo sporting challenges in the world: the Vendée Globe 2028.
"The track record of this IMOCA 60 speaks for itself," said Shawyer. "Not only was Sébastien Simon a strong contender to win the Vendée Globe, but he also broke the solo 24-hour speed record in this very boat. As we look ahead to the next three years, I'm incredibly excited to bring a yacht with this kind of performance history into the Canada Ocean Racing family."
With its new Be Water Positive branding, Emira IV will take part in pinnacle events this year, including The Ocean Race Europe and Transat Cafe L'OR, offering a glimpse into the future for the team, its partners and fans.
This will be Scott's first-time racing on a foiling IMOCA, the game-changing technology that is revolutionising ocean racing.
With large hydrofoils lifting the boat above the water to reduce drag and increase speed, these yachts represent the very edge of performance.
"This is a big moment for us as a team," said Shawyer. "We always aim high, not just to race, but to compete at the top level. Taking on a foiling IMOCA is part of that vision. It's faster, more demanding, and it pushes me out of my comfort zone. I've never raced one before, so there's a lot to learn, and that makes this journey even more exciting."
Last year, Shawyer became the first Canadian to complete the New York-Vendée solo transatlantic race, finishing the 3,100-nautical-mile course in 14 days aboard Emira I, a non-foiling IMOCA. The race was ultimately won by a foiling IMOCA in 10 days, which indicates the performance potential in modern foiling yachts.
Sébastien Simon, skipper of Groupe Dubreuil, says of the purchase: "It's the end of a chapter with this boat, in which we completed the 2024 Vendée Globe in a fantastic 3rd place. It's time for us to start a new one, to look ahead and focus on the 2028 edition, and we're very proud to see Scott and Canada Ocean Racing acquire our boat. We hope they'll push it just as hard and enjoy it as much as I did. I'm happy to know that this boat has a new owner for the Vendée Globe 2028. I wish Scott and the team the very best and look forward to seeing this boat sailing again with its new Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive colours."
Beyond competition, Canada Ocean Racing champions sustainability through its Be Water Positive initiative - a call to action around the global water crisis.
Originally designed for 11th Hour Racing, Emira IV is one of the most sustainable IMOCA builds to date.
Its construction included renewable energy sources, bio-based resins, recycled plastic materials, and structural innovations that reduced over 100kg of carbon fibre.
Onboard systems are powered largely by solar panels and a hydro generator, with 60% of the boat's energy coming from renewable sources.
The yacht also carries scientific equipment to collect vital data about our oceans, from temperature and salinity to mercury levels and phytoplankton.
"We're proud to carry forward the yacht's sustainability legacy," said Shawyer. "Our Be Water Positive initiative is all about action - working with partners, raising awareness, and driving change by shedding light on global freshwater scarcity. This boat gives us the opportunity to race at the highest level and support vital ocean science at the same time."