The story begins during the COVID lockdown when Scott was stuck working grueling 12-hour days, rarely stepping outside. Then, he stumbled upon the 2020 Vendée Globe start—a moment where skippers walked down the dock, removed their masks, and set off on a solo race around the globe, one of the toughest challenges in the world of sports.

"That was the moment I realized I wanted that," Scott recalls. "The challenge, the passion, the excitement—something that would make me jump out of bed in the morning, something to bring energy and purpose to my life."

This wasn't just a midlife crisis; it was a complete reimagining of what life could be. From dinghy sailing on Georgian Bay to preparing for solo ocean racing, Scott's journey exemplifies the bold spirit of adventure that drives us all to push beyond our limits.

Scott's approach to ocean racing mirrors his business acumen: assemble the best team, partner with industry leaders, and pursue a mission bigger than individual achievement. That's where the Be Water Positive campaign comes into focus.

"When we started Canada Ocean Racing, I wanted to have a bigger message or purpose to the team," Scott explains. "Be Water Positive is really a call to action for people to do more good to the watershed than the harm that we're currently doing."

The concept parallels carbon neutrality but pushes further—asking individuals, communities, and businesses to become net positive contributors to water conservation. For Scott and his team, this isn't just a slogan; it's a driving force that gives deeper meaning to their racing campaign.

While the Vendée Globe remains the ultimate goal, Scott's immediate focus centers on The Ocean Race Europe 2025. This intense 40-day race around major European cities represents a completely different challenge from traditional IMOCA racing.

"It's a super intense, super fast blast around major cities in Europe," Scott describes. "Very different than what the IMOCA class usually does, which are longer ocean races. So it's much more coastal racing, with very different weather patterns."

The race kicks off in Kiel, Germany on August 10, 2025, with stops in Portsmouth, UK; Matosinhos-Porto, Portugal; Cartagena, Spain; Nice, France; and Genova, Italy, before the finale in Boka Bay, Montenegro. Each leg demands perfection—there's no room for mistakes when the competition is this fierce.

Canada Ocean Racing's partnership with Helly Hansen demonstrates the critical importance of reliable gear in extreme conditions. Having worn Helly Hansen gear for years in both sailing and ski racing, Scott understands firsthand how proper equipment enables focus on performance rather than survival.

"I've worn Helly Hansen gear for a long time, both on the water with sailing and off the water with downhill skiing and ski racing, and it's been fantastic gear for me," Scott notes. "It fits, it keeps me warm, keeps me dry, very durable, it lasts and really lets me put my attention into the task at hand versus worrying about the gear."

The partnership extends beyond equipment supply—it's about collaborating with a brand that shares the same commitment to professional-grade performance and environmental responsibility. Scott and his team will be outfitted with pinnacle pieces from Helly Hansen's Ægir and Skagen collections, gear developed through 50 years of design improvements alongside The Ocean Race teams.

Scott's perspective on water has evolved dramatically through his sailing experience. Coming from Ontario, Canada, where fresh water flows abundantly from the Great Lakes, he never considered water scarcity a pressing issue. That changed completely when he began spending time on the ocean.

"When we're sailing on the ocean, we're surrounded by water and we can't use any of it because it has salt in it," Scott explains. "I see the pollution in the ocean. We see changes in the weather patterns. We see the sargassum migrating to places it wasn't, which is evidence of changes in the environment."

This firsthand experience drives Scott's commitment to the Be Water Positive movement. Through partnerships with the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and H2O Innovation, the team aims to raise awareness about water technologies like desalination and water reuse that can help address global water scarcity.

The Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive campaign embodies the concept of shared challenges. With British offshore sailor and long-time Helly Hansen ambassador Pip Hare joining as a key team member, Scott is building a crew that understands the demands of elite ocean racing.

"Trust is hugely important in any team environment," Scott emphasizes. "Integrity being one of the prime values because it's the foundation of trust—doing what you said you're going to do, being true to yourself and true to others."

This trust extends beyond the team to the equipment, the boat, and ultimately to Scott's own capabilities. The mental preparation required for offshore racing at this level demands absolute confidence in every component of the campaign.

Scott's mission goes further than personal achievement to establishing a foundation for Canadian offshore sailing. The team's Pathway Program screens applicants Canada-wide, providing knowledge transfer, employment opportunities, and internships for the next generation of sailors.

"One of the goals of Canada Ocean Racing is to raise Canada's profile in offshore sailing," Scott explains. "We have a number of great offshore sailors from Canada right now, but nobody has been racing at this level of offshore solo racing in the IMOCA class."

As Scott prepares for The Ocean Race Europe 2025, supported by Helly Hansen's professional-grade gear and driven by the Be Water Positive mission, he's creating something far more significant than a racing campaign. He's building a platform for environmental awareness, inspiring the next generation of sailors, and proving that extraordinary adventures remain possible at any stage of life.

"Life is what you make of it and it can be an amazing adventure," Scott reflects. "We are all capable of achieving almost anything we set our minds to, and we can all choose our own adventure. This is mine, what is yours?"

The countdown to The Ocean Race Europe 2025 has begun, and Scott Shawyer's journey from business executive to ocean warrior continues to inspire. With every nautical mile sailed and every message shared about water conservation, he's proving that the greatest adventures often begin with a single moment of clarity and the courage to pursue something extraordinary.