Sail a 'symbolic circumnavigation' and fundraise for ocean health!

by Hilary Kotoun on 30 Apr 2014 Participants in the 14th annual Summer Sailstice can support ocean health while their sails are hoisted on the weekend of June 21st - the worldwide celebration of sailing that looks to unite the global sailing community - to do something fun and beneficial for the oceans. Together, Summer Sailstice and Sailors for the Sea are challenging sailors to collectively sail a symbolic circumnavigation of the globe.

What is a 'symbolic circumnavigation of the globe'? They could do this over a weekend? Read on...

To participate in this unique circumnavigation, sign up on the Summer Sailstice website and pledge your donation for each mile sailed. The global goal is for participating boats to sail a collective of 26,000 miles, the equivalent of a circumnavigation. 'My goal is for 2,600 boats to sail ten miles each with every boat pledging just $1 per mile,' noted Arndt. 'Together, sailors will contribute $26,000 to Sailors for the Sea’s ocean conservation programs'.

Why support ocean conservation:
The Earth’s waters are under increasing pressure from human use; marine life, coastal environments and vast oceans are all impacted by pollution. The ocean, which was once considered inexhaustible and resilient, is actually finite and fragile.

The issues faced by our waters are extensive and the key concerns include:

In all five oceans, the Great Lakes and many rivers, plastic debris can be found in the shape of a bottle or under the microscope.

90% of the big fish in the ocean have been removed, making the issue of overfishing and mismanagement of fisheries an important matter for our global food resources.

Every year approximately 400 dead zones appear in oceans and large lakes around the world created by runoff from sewage, urban land use and fertilizers. These chemicals decrease the amount of oxygen killing marine animals and plants – the largest dead zone forms in the Gulf of Mexico each summer when runoff from the Mississippi River reaches the waters.

While these problems may seem insurmountable, hope exists to save the oceans! Sailors for the Sea was founded to unite the boating community to protect the waters they love. Through their programs, Sailors for the Sea educates the boating community about ocean health issues, and engages behavior change through their Clean Regattas program.

Celebration of Sailing:
Now in its 14th year, the worldwide Summer Sailstice celebration of sailing is a tradition for sailors annually, across the globe. This year, the event will be celebrated on the Summer Solstice (northern hemisphere) itself, June 21st, giving all sailors out on the water the absolute maximum time to sail in daylight.

Summer Sailstice encourages all sailors, from the recreational to the competitive, to sign up at www.summersailstice.com, a social network where they can share their individual sailing plans, recruit crew, post stories and create Summer Sailstice events, be they with their yacht club, fellow sailors or sailing association. All sailors, regardless of vessel or location, are encouraged to sail ‘together’ wherever they happen to be on the planet and contribute to ocean health.

Summer Sailstice Event Details:
Who: Sailors and non-sailors worldwide
When: Weekend June 21, 2014
Where: Global (wherever there’s wind, water and sails) - well, the Northern Hemisphere actually.
How: Sailors register for free on the event website to declare their participation, invite others to join their Summer Sailstice event and to gain a chance to win prizes donated from sailing companies. To learn more visit: www.summersailstice.com.

About Summer Sailstice
Summer Sailstice is the global sailing holiday celebrated on the weekend closest to the summer solstice. This international event was founded in 2001 to connect the global sailing community in a fun, creative, multifaceted, multi-location sailing holiday. Every year, Summer Sailstice connects over 19,000 sailors all over the world—cruisers, racers and recreational—to celebrate and showcase life under sail. It has expanded to include participants from Asia, across the Americas and Europe. For more information, please visit www.SummerSailstice.com or contact john@summersailstice.com.

About Sailors for the Sea
Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. For more information on or to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org or contact info@sailorsforthesea.org.