Sailing across Superior, single-handed (42 photos)

Adrian van den Hoven is such an avid sailor, his coworkers at Hydro One have been known to delay putting in vacation requests until van den Hoven has indicated what dates he needs for his many competitions.

They understand racing is that important to him.

This year, the Collingwood, Ontario man is sailing one of 29 boats in the Biennial Trans Superior International Yacht Race.

It's a grueling 338-nautical-mile sprint across the length of Lake Superior, which started at 1 p.m. today at the Gros Cap Reef lighthouse.

Van den Hoven likes to sail single-handed and is among a handful of solo sailors in this year's race.

He's shown locking through the Sault recreational locks this morning with about 20 other yachts on their way to the start line.

According to the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, van den Hoven is the first Canadian to complete solo racing on all five of the Great Lakes, and he's won his division on at least four lakes.

He sails Ophir II, a 33-foot Mirage sloop.

His home Collingwood Yacht Club describes van den Hoven as "in awe of nature - the stars and the lightning storms at night, weather, waves, the adrenaline rush of squalls, storm survival, fog and close calls with freighters as well as with the competitive aspect of the races."

And nowhere is the thrill greater than on Lake Superior.

The Trans Superior race crosses an ice-cold lake east to west, against the prevailing winds.

Van den Hoven is no stranger to the power of Superior.

On August 20, 2009, he spent 30 hours in heavy seas between Rossport and Batchawana Bay, the same day that Ontario was hammered by 18 tornadoes in the fiercest tornado outbreak in Canadian history.

The Great Lakes Singlehandled Society warns about the rigours of solo sailing:

"It is strongly recommended that you make the effort to know your own physical condition and consider the sensibility of your participation in the solo challenge if there are any doubts about your physical ability. It is suggested that you establish a daily physical exercise routine program to condition your body for this event. If you have not had a recent physical exam, it is a good idea to have one to be sure there are no hidden problems.

Environment Canada is predicting the worst weather for this year's race will be tonight (Saturday) and Sunday, with a strong wind warning in effect for eastern parts of the lake.

Winds are expected to reach 20 knots this evening, decreasing to 15 Sunday night.  

Wave heights were expected to reach one metre.

A chance of showers exists tonight and Sunday.

As of 6:45 p.m., most of the yachts had rounded Whitefish Point Light.

Peter Thornton's 70-foot Il Mostro from Chicago Yacht Club had a substantial lead, followed by Bruce Aikens' Talisman from Little Traverse Yacht Club and Bill Martin's Stripes from Bayview Yacht Club in Ann Arbor.

The following photo gallery shows 20 of the racing boats this morning at the Ontario Sault recreational locks.