Windsurf around the world

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 world wide to conserve our oceans, seas and coastal regions.

In the last decade much attention has been drawn towards issues concerning our oceans and the ways in which they are being …what?…... Humanity has come to learn that our oceans and seas are one of the most important and yet little understood regions on this planet. The health of our oceans 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 plan.
 Although we hear often in the media of the impending destruction of ocean environments we hear much less about the efforts in motion to save these areas or the people fighting to protect them. Many of these efforts are locally initiated in areas that are far from the help of international organizations and little heard of 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 by communities to protect their mangroves and coastal areas and schools built to educate their children in the conservation of their coastal regions and seas. There are also various international charities working in many areas of the world that are seldom given the recognition or support that they deserve. We would like to make this journey a way of directing attention to some of the incredible efforts already underway. By visiting both local and internationally organized projects in every destination that we pass through 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 as many people as possible worldwide. By sailing around the world on a windsurf we will have a much further reaching audience than if we were to use traditional means such as a sailing boat. 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.

Our route will be decided upon for its safety and practicality but also to enable us to pass through coastal areas in which conservation efforts are in action. We will not be trying to achieve the fastest around the world crossing, we will be trying to visit projects and communities along the way and therefore the shortest route will not necessarily be the chosen one.


 

At all times the windsurfer will be followed by a sailing boat which will 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 be able to board the boat only when legs of the journey are complete and coastal regions have been reached, 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.


 Our plan is to create an internet diary throughout the journey. On this would be regular updates, photos, maps of our progress and videos of the journey. We would feature all the projects that we visit on the internet site and utilize this as a way for people to contribute to these projects through our fund. We will be directing funds towards reliable local or international projects that we feel are helping to protect the ocean. This could range from donating to local communities to help clean up beaches to helping create marine reserves and funding rangers. Donating to local schools to promote environmental awareness or raising awareness against shark fining or unsustainable fishing practices. Where we can, by including these movements on our website and spending time with the people concerned with them, we hope to show people not only the efforts that are happening worldwide, but also how much we can help.

Donations would be made directly to the website and then distributed among the charities as we visit them. Sponsorship of the journey by kilometer would also be possible.

We would also be asking for funding for the journey itself and this would be gained in the form of corporate sponsorship though advertising opportunities or direct donations. We would be looking for sponsors with a genuine concern for the oceans and environment within their business practices. Advertising opportunities would exist on the webpage, the support boat and windsurf and through t-shirts etc worn by the crew. All sponsors would be mentioned on the website. Media interest including television coverage would be encouraged and the opportunity for video diaries and documentaries are being discussed. We would also consider selling places on the support boat as another form of donation. Any money that is not needed for the journey but has been donated for this reason would be directed towards the charities. This is a non-profit organization, all that we collect will be redirected to charitable organizations and projects.

                                                                                               aqnamatata@gmail.com