| Mike Birch | |
| Birth Date: | 1931 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Death Place: | Brech, France |
| Nationality: | French |
| Occupation: | Navigator |
Mike Birch (1 November 1931 – 26 October 2022) was a Canadian navigator.[1]
Birch 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 of late in the race.[2]
Birch's victory at the Route du Rhum would begin the reign of the multihull, particularly following the death of Alain Colas. Birch continued a long career racing offshore,[3] completing his final race at the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007, where he finished in 16th place.[4]
Birch died in Brech, France on 26 October 2022, at the age of 90.[5]