If sports are a metaphor for life, and all of its concerns - personal, financial, business, family - then imagine the lessons we can learn from the world's most difficult, challenging, and gruelling individual competition: single handed open ocean sailing. Derek Hatfield draws out these lessons in a fascinating and visually stimulating presentation that tells the story of his successful completion of the Around Alone race. From perseverance, to teamwork (he was on the boat alone but had to work closely with his support team on shore), to focus and entrepreneurial drive, Derek weaves a tale that is both practical and motivational and is sure to resonate with everyone.

Derek Hatfield was the 2003 Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year and is the 126th person in history to finish a single-handed race around the world. Competing in the Open 40 Spirit of Canada, he finished first in his fleet and in 3rd place overall in Class II in the 2002-03 Around Alone race, despite a life threatening and catastrophic capsize near Cape Horn.

Derek and his team are now preparing for the next big challenge, the prestigious VELUX 5 Oceans single handed race around the world. This race is the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport. Starting in France on October 17th, 2010 the racers will navigate through a series of high-pressure sprints within a marathon circumnavigation.