The International SeaKeepers Society has a clear mission to advance ocean research and education, making an ideal partner for the MAIDEN team and the ongoing work of the Seabed 2030 Project. The Ocean Globe Race is a fully crewed yacht race commemorating the 50th anniversary of the inaugural 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Tracy-and-the-Maiden-crew
The race sees MAIDEN taking a break from her world tour, which began in September 2021, with the mission to educate, empower and elevate girls by increasing their life and career choices and raising money to fund girl’s education projects around the world. Since beginning the tour the crew, led by legendary sailor Tracey Edwards MBE, have travelled over 70,000 nautical miles, visited over 20 countries and inspired thousands of girls from all works of life.
Seabed 2030 is a research and data compilation project undertaken by The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO with the aim of creating a freely available gridded bathymetric (depth of water in the ocean) dataset.
Tracey had this to say:
“SeaKeepers’ collaboration with Maiden extends beyond the OGR. Maiden is a proud SeaKeepers program partner and a supporter of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. The crew carries the Seabed 2030 logger on board, contributing valuable data to map the ocean floor as part of SeaKeepers’ Citizen Science initiative. The logger was installed before the OGR, and the first leg of data from the UK to Cape Town is already in the hands of SeaKeepers’ Citizen Science team.”
Tracy Edwards
Seabed 2030 Project Director Mamie McMichael-Phillips added:
“We are delighted by this collaboration and greatly appreciate the support from SeaKeepers, a valued, long-standing partner of Seabed 2030, as well as Maiden, under the leadership of the inspiring Tracy Edwards.
“This partnership stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to forging a path toward a future where the ocean is comprehensively understood and diligently preserved for generations to come. Our mission is a collective endeavour – achievable only through collaborative efforts, such as this, on an international scale.”
MAIDEN arrived in New Zealand and was greeted by SeaKeeper’s South Pacific Program Development Manager, Melissa White. The SeaKeepers and MAIDEN collaboration extends to other projects including an online educational outreach program designed to inspire the next generation of ocean enthusiasts.
“Maiden’s journey is not just a race around the globe; it’s a testament to the resilience and capability of women in sailing. Their dedication to education, empowerment, and ocean research reflects SeaKeepers’ mission, making this partnership a powerful force for positive change.” Said Gill Rodrigues, Director of International Relations for SeaKeepers.
The preservation of our oceans is a vital part of the ongoing fight against the destruction of the world’s natural resources. With the help of organisations like SeaKeepers and projects like MAIDEN and Seabed 2030, the yachting industry can play its part in improving how we enjoy our seas and oceans for years to come. That is why CharterWorld is a proud partner of The International SeaKeepers Society.
