Spirit of Canada is a 60-foot, high-performance sailboat built to be raced by Derek Hatfield singlehanded in the demanding non-stop 2008 Vendée Globe around-the-world race in 2008. Hatfield will need to travel solo for three months, going 48,280 km from France around the three great capes of the Southern Hemisphere.
A 180-degree rollover test was mandated by the race organisers.
Although structurally sound in the water, the carbon fibre/Nomex vessel is light weight and could be easily damaged during a lift. Special nylon belts were attached to an adjustable spreader beam for ease in manoeuvring the craft.
The crane overturned the boat at the Port Credit Yacht Club in Mississauga (Toronto) Harbour. The belts were wrapped around the boat’s keel to help hoist it up and flip it over. Skipper Hatfield then had to bring the boat upright to comply with race qualifying regulations.
For such a specialised lift, a mobile crane offers more versatility than a typical boat lift, says Aaron Hanna of All Canada Cranes & Aerials, who supervises the lifting of approximately 600 boats in Toronto marinas every spring and autumn.
Aaron Hanna worked with Skipper Hatfield to plan the five lifts. He specified a Grove TMS 640 40-ton (36.3 tonne) all-terrain crane with a hook height of 45 ft (13.7 m) and a 20 ft (6.1 m) spreader beam to meet the unique dimensions of the vessel.
