Send message to Author

Short Abstract

The Ocean Race integrates science, education, and policy to advance ocean conservation. Through global data collection, youth education, and advocacy for Ocean Rights, the Race demonstrates how competitive sailing can accelerate marine research and inspire worldwide stewardship.

Abstract

The Ocean Race, one of the world’s most demanding round-the-world sailing competitions, has become a pioneering platform for ocean science, education, and advocacy. Its Science Program equips racing yachts with compact, high-precision instruments that collect crucial data on temperature, salinity, CO₂, and dissolved oxygen, particularly in under-sampled regions such as the Southern Ocean. During the 2023 edition, over four million data points were gathered across 32,000 miles, complemented by surface drifters, microplastic samplers, eDNA collectors, and phytoplankton imagers—turning racing boats into “vessels of opportunity” for global ocean monitoring.

Collaborating with leading research institutes and international programs (inclusing GEOMAR, NOAA, NOC, Ifremer, VLIZ, MPI, CNRS, ICM-CSIC, MeteoFrance, Citizens Of The Sea, OceanOPS, GOOS, EU MINKE, E-SurfMar, GOOD, and SOOP), the initiative has advanced the co-development of robust, low-impact instruments suited to the extreme demands of offshore racing. The program now extends beyond the Race itself, with instruments redeployed across transatlantic regattas and private expeditions, ensuring continuity and open data flow into global observing networks.

In parallel, The Ocean Race runs a global learning program engaging youth on topics such as climate change, marine biodiversity, and plastic pollution, aligning with the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Moreover, its advocacy for the Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights aims to establish legal recognition of the ocean’s intrinsic right to thrive. Together, these actions show how a sporting event can transcend competition—uniting science, education, and governance to inspire collective responsibility for the ocean.