Our aim is to
circumnavigate the world by windsurf for the first time in history. During this
journey we intend to draw attention to global and local efforts that are taking
place across the world to conserve our oceans, seas and coastal regions.
Over the last
decade concerns as to the way our oceans are being over exploited and
polluted have been brought to the publics attention. Humanity has come to
learn that our oceans are one of the most important and yet poorly understood
ecosystems on the planet. Their health has come to the forefront of
environmental concerns and is now also being linked to the ongoing debate
surrounding climate change and the role that the ocean plays in this process.
It is undeniable that the health of our oceans does not only affect those who
rely on them for their livelihoods or who live at their edges: they are crucial
for the survival of every species on this planet.
Although we often
hear in the media of the impending destruction of marine environments we hear
much less about the efforts in motion to save these areas or the people
fighting to protect them. Many of these programs are locally initiated in areas
that are far from the help of international organizations and scarcely
mentioned in the western media. Communities and governments have created ‘no
fish zones’ to protect their fish stocks, villagers have enforced policing of
coastal areas to prevent illegal fishing and to protect their local marine
life, projects have been set up to protect mangroves and coastal areas and
education programs have been implemented to teach children in the conservation
of their coastal regions and seas. There are also various international
charities that are seldom given the recognition or support that they deserve.
We would like to make this journey a way of drawing attention to some of the
incredible efforts already underway. By visiting both local and internationally
organized projects in every destination on our journey we hope to raise
awareness and support for these projects.
We have decided to
use this unusual means of transport as we feel that through this choice we will
be able to capture the imagination of many more people worldwide and have a
much further reaching audience than if we were to use traditional means such as
a sailing boat. In the last decade people have become far more aware of their
impact on the environment and no more so than in terms of travel. The increase
of vehicle emissions from expanding numbers of car users and the ever growing
number of international travelers has drawn attention to each individuals
‘carbon footprint’. We have decided to use a windsurf to highlight the need for
more environmentally responsible travel and to draw attention to conservation
and environmental efforts around the world. By utilizing a form of transport
that requires only the wind to propel it, our journey will enable us to use a
renewable energy source with no environmental impact. It will be a longer and
more challenging journey but we feel that this will be to our advantage as it
will increase our ability to reach more communities and conservation efforts
along the way.
We will plan our
route to enable us to pass through coastal areas in which conservation efforts
are in action, whilst also factoring safety and practicality. We do not plan to
make this voyage in the fastest time or shortest distance but by choosing the
route which will include as many and as diverse a range of conservation
initiatives as possible.
At all times the
windsurfer will be supported by a sailing boat to provide emergency support
throughout the journey. A qualified crew will be on hand to provide medical and
technical assistance on board. The windsurfer will complete the entire
circumnavigation by windsurf and will not be towed during the journey. They
will only be able to leave the windsurf when a given leg of the journey has
been completed or in emergency situations. The board will be custom designed to
not only withstand ocean crossings but also to enable the surfer to sleep
within it when necessary.
