Crew clothing - Imp. deadline coming up!

It's time to make a decision about some personalized clothing for this year’s race. 

If you want anything customized, your order must be received by June 21st. 

Here are a few suggestions in varying price ranges:

Aigle Jacket – 109.99 plus tax

Golf Shirt – 29.99 plus tax

Ball cap with logo – 14.99 plus tax

Boat Name embroidery - $6.50 per item

 A happy crew - PRICELESS!!

See the full range of clothing and find the order form:

Just click on "Shop for RHSP gear" on the left-hand menu.

Offshore Safety course - June 20th

There is another chance for you and your crew to complete an offshore survival training course before RHSP 2012. 
Heather Conrad tells us there are spaces available on a one-day ISAF-sanctioned course coming up on Wednesday, June 20th in Dartmouth. And if that date won’t work for you, she also says another course can be organized on another day if there are a minimum of six people to take part.

Survival Systems Training
40 Mount Hope Avenue
Dartmouth NS
B2Y 4K9 Canada
Tel: +1 (902) 465 3888

Registrar
Heather Conrad
Tel: (902) 465 3888 x103
Toll-free: 1 800 788 3888
Fax: (902) 466 2929
Email: heatherc@sstl.com

Cost: $345 + tax

ISAF Offshore Personal Survival

This program is designed to develop awareness of responsibilities amongst offshore yacht skippers and crews, to provide them with practical strategies for coping with emergencies at sea, and to familiarize them with safety and emergency equipment, its purpose, deployment, and proper use.

CONTENT
• Care and maintenance of safety equipment
• Storm sails, damage control and repair
• Heavy weather-crew routines, boat handling
• Sea anchors
• MOB prevention and recovery
• Assisting other boats
• Cold water physiology
• SAR protocols and methods
• Vessel abandonment
• Life rafts and PFDs
• Marine fire fighting (fire extinguishers)
• Pyrotechnics and distress signals / EPIRBs
• Communications / VHF / GMDSS

Shipping Container to Saint-Pierre

If you are planning to race to Saint-Pierre, there will be a shipping container available to help you and your crew transport extra gear. The container will be available to ship non-hazardous materials from RNSYS to YCSP, and then back to RNSYS.

The container is expected on site in the RNSYS dockyard from July 1st until the evening of July 4th. A race committee representative will be there to accept gear for shipment on July 3rd and 4th, 2-4 p.m. and again 5-8 p.m. All gear must be loaded prior to 8 p.m. on July 4th.

Contact Andrew Childs at (902) 240-0155 for further assistance.

Note: Gear for shipment should be well packed and contained. Each boat shipping gear must provide a detailed listing of the contents of their shipment. Gear will only be accepted for shipment in the container if accompanied by this information. 

The container is expected to arrive at the YCSP on July 9th. It will be available for gear retrieval during the day from this time until the 15th of July. Those wishing to ship back to RNSYS from St. Pierre may do so, provided the same detailed list of contents is provided to attending staff in St. Pierre. The container is expected to depart St. Pierre on July 16th, and arrive back at RNSYS on or about the 18th of July, once it has cleared Canadian customs.

Competitors are requested to please pick up all their gear ASAP once the container has returned to RNSYS. The container will be at the RNSYS dockyard for about 2 days before being picked up again.

Deadline coming up....

Those of you who have already registered for this year's event have already received a reminder from Race Director Richard Hinterhoeller.  But if you have been holding off, now is the time to act!  June 1^st is an important date.  The entry fee to be received by the RNSYS administrative office prior to that date is $450 (Canadian funds). As of that date, the fee increases to $550.  Just think what you could do with that extra $100 in Saint-Pierre.  Cognac, anyone???

Gear Time!

The best gear helps you go faster - no lie!

That's why your crew is going to want some of the items we've just made available through this website.  Look at the left hand menu and click on "Shop for RHSP gear". You'll find a great selection including Aigle jackets and vests, fleeces, shirts and hats.  You can have our RHSP 2012 logo added as well as your boat's name and crew position if you wish.   There's a form to download and print to make your order.

Advertising Space Available

There are only a few weeks now to the start of the 2012 edition of Route Halifax Saint-Pierre Ocean Race. 

Our 28-page Official Race booklet is in production and will be offered in print. Online advertising with sponsor and partner recognition and links is also available.

There is some great space available that will help you reach a targeted audience of avid sailors from all along the eastern seaboard and other RHSP 2012 followers. If anyone is interested, please contact Peter Blunden at 902-488-7245 or by email to media@routehalifaxsaintpierre.com for ad space, sizing and pricing.

VIP Reception launches 2012 Race Countdown

We held a VIP reception at RNSYS' Saraguay House Fri., April 20, 2012 to launch the race in earnest this year. Guests of honour included Nova Scotia Lieut. Gov. J.J. Grant and Le Maire de Saint Pierre, Madame Karine Claireaux. 

Route Halifax-Saint Pierre 2012 is dedicated to the late Capt. Hal Davies, one of the race founders. His son Stephen spoke about his father's extensive experience as a professional mariner and amateur sailor. The Davies family has donated a new trophy which will be awarded for the first time this year to the best performance by a new entrant.