{{Short description|Canadian navigator (1931–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Mike Birch | image = Olympus StMalo 1978-11 1.jpeg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Birch in the cockpit of the ''Olympus Photo'' | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1931|11|01}} | birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2022|10|26|1931|11|01}} | death_place = Brech, France | other_names = | occupation = Navigator | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Mike Birch''' (1 November 1931 – 26 October 2022) was a Canadian navigator.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eliès|first=Philippe|date=26 October 2022|title=Premier vainqueur de la Route du Rhum, Mike Birch est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/voile/route-du-rhum/premier-vainqueur-de-la-route-du-rhum-mike-birch-est-mort-26-10-2022-13208129.php|language=French|work=Le Télégramme|location= |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
==Biography== Birch was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He began sailing later in his life, but gained notoriety in the 1976 OSTAR where he came in second on a 30' trimaran "The Third Turtle" beating the 236' "CLUB MEDITERRANEE". He continued his surprising success as a solo sailor in the inaugural Route du Rhum in 1978. His sailboat, the ''Olympus Photo'', a 12-meter trimaran, caught up with the larger ''{{ill|Kriter V|fr}}'' of {{ill|Michel Malinovsky|fr}} late in the race.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=8 December 1978|title=Route du Rhum : arrivée Birch et Malinovsky|trans-title= |url=https://www.ina.fr/ina-eclaire-actu/video/i10140610/route-du-rhum-arrivee-birch-et-malinovsky|language=French|work=Institut national de l'audiovisuel|location= |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
Birch's victory at the Route du Rhum would begin the reign of the multihull, particularly following the death of Alain Colas. He continued a long career racing offshore,<ref>{{cite news |last=Torterat|first=Chloé|date=26 October 2022|title=Portrait de navigateur - Mike Birch, vainqueur de la 1re édition de la Route du Rhum|trans-title= |url=https://www.bateaux.com/article/18445/Portrait-de-navigateur-Mike-Birch-vainqueur-de-la-1re-edition-de-la-Route-du-Rhum|language=French|work=Bateaux.com|location= |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> completing his final race at the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007, where he finished in 16th place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Voile/transat-jacques-vabre/saison-2007/page-calendrier-resultats/monocoques-60-pieds-classe-imoca-mixte|title=Calendrier et résultats Transat Jacques-Vabre 2007, Voile, Monocoques (60 pieds, classe IMOCA) mixte|work=L'Équipe|language=French}}</ref>
Birch died in Brech on 26 October 2022, at the age of 90.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=26 October 2022|title=Mike Birch, premier vainqueur de la Route du Rhum, est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Voile/Actualites/Mike-birch-premier-vainqueur-de-la-route-du-rhum-est-mort/1361317|language=French|work=L'Équipe|location= |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Mike}} Category:1931 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Canadian maritime navigators Category:People from Vancouver
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