On December 23, 2010 at 1015 PST Motor yacht Slojo arrived in Nuku Hiva the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, having completed the ultimate YAG Challenge. Their transpacific voyage started in San Diego on the 11th of December and saw her owners, guests and crew pushing the limits to see how much money they can raise to benefit YachtAid Global (YAG), a charitable organization that orchestrates superyacht deliveries of humanitarian and developmental aid to children in isolated communities worldwide. The total amount raised was more than $53,100.
Crew of Motor yacht SLOJO in San Deigo before departing on the SLOJO YAG Challenge - Credit Yacht Slojo
The Slojo YAG Challenge included the 15 member team taking turns running on a treadmill, rowing a rowing machine, and biking while the yacht travelled about 3,200 nautical miles nonstop for 12 days. The funds raised came from members of the yacht community, family and friends who sponsored the group per nautical mile.
During motor yacht Slojo’s transpacific voyage from San Diego to French Polynesia, the group posted photos and updates on Facebook and seemed to be in great spirits.
Owning a magnificent vessel like Slojo is a great privilege; and it makes for a perfect venue to raise money for a cause that we all believe in,” said motor yacht Slojo owners Jim and sujo. “The concept of an around-the-clock triathlon for 12 days not only gives us the rare opportunity to participate in with our crew, but also an opportunity to use Slojo in a way that we can all be proud of. We are very committed to and excited about this adventure.”
Over the past two years, Yacht Slojo has been an avid supporter of YachtAid Global. Its “no tip” policy encourages guests to put gratuities toward charitable YAG projects. Funds collected have helped to purchase basic necessities such as food, school supplies, conservation materials, instructional aid and medical supplies for people in isolated communities within places like Alaska, Panama, Moorea and Indonesia. Since her involvement with YachtAid Global, Slojo has donated thousands of items, countless hours of time, and most importantly, the will and creativity to do what it takes to spread awareness for YAG’s causes—something like this is extremely valuable to the organization.
Mark Drewelow, founder and program advisor of YachtAid Global, commented. “The level of interest from around the world has proven to us that the charitable side of the yachting industry has a bright future,” “From the Slojo YAG Challenge experience, I’m confident that YAG can work with any yacht to customize a fundraising mechanism in which the proceeds are utilized for projects that interest the yacht while benefitting the many isolated communities worldwide that need the help.”
The owners of Slojo said in a statement: “We’re all deeply touched with the amount of support we received. We got as far as we did because of all the donors and supporters who rallied us. We’re truly thankful and look forward to working with all the YAG projects that these funds will help fulfill.”
The owners of yacht Slojo requested that the proceeds from the Slojo YAG Challenge go to the Pacific. Thanks to the efforts of the team involved in the Slojo YAG Challenge , children in the Pacific will receive books and other items to help them learn what they can do to protect the environment and wildlife and improve their own well-being.
Motor yacht SLOJO YAG Challenge 2010 Transpacific Triathlon to Benefit YachtAid Global® Completed
“Nuku Hiva (sometimes spelled “Nukahiva”) is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean, formerly also known as Île Marchand and Madison Island. Herman Melville wrote his book Typee based on his experiences in the Taipivai valley in the eastern part of Nuku Hiva. Robert Louis Stevenson’s first landfall on his voyage on the Casco, was at Hatiheu, on the north side of Nuku Hiva, in 1888. Nuku Hiva was also the site for Survivor: Marquesas, the fourth instalment of the popular CBS reality television show in the US.”
