A young mixed team with an experienced afterguard and the claim to sustainable environmental commitment for the seas: That is "Turn the Tide on Plastic" - Team number 6 for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018. Organizations such as the Mirpuri Foundation and the Ocean Family Foundation are behind the campaign. The project is also intended to reinforce the United Nations campaign "Clean Seas: Turn the Tide on Plastic". The team wants to prove itself in the 13th edition of the most famous race around the world at the same time and achieve a good placement in the sea marathon over 45,000 nautical miles.
Skipper, fighter, sea friend and great speaker: Dee Caffari
In 2006, Dee Caffari, ennobled by the British Queen, was the first woman to sail around the world with one hand and non-stop in a westerly direction - only four men had done that before the Englishwoman. Overall, Caffari was the first woman to circumnavigate the world three times non-stop in both directions, taking part in the Vendée Globe and the BarcelonWorld Race. Now the 44-year-old wants to know again and build a mixed team with around 50 percent women and 50 percent men, the majority of whom are said to be under 30 years of age.
"I am super happy that I am standing up for a cause that I am passionate about," said the skipper, whose own English company will oversee the campaign. "We want to make a strong impression with a young and international mixed crew on the water and on land," said Caffari, explaining her plan. One of the people behind the ambitious commitment is Paulo Mirpuri, who founded the Mirpuri Foundation for the benefit of the seas. The businessman and philanthropist said: "We must act immediately if the next generation is to inherit the seas as we saw them as children." The Ocean Family Foundation is on board with very similar goals. On behalf of the foundation, Peter Dubens said: "With her public profile as the British world record holder, Dee Caffari is the perfect leader to draw attention to the need for immediate action." The British woman wants to announce her crew in the coming weeks and months.
A picture from "Aviva" times: With this yacht, the former sports teacher Dee Caffari sailed around the world alone and against the prevailing winds non-stop in 2006 - a pioneering achievement
For Caffari, the commitment means the second Volvo Ocean Race participation in a row. She had contested the previous race with the women’s team SC and since then has been promoting a follow-up campaign with female participation. "I am honored to be part of this groundbreaking campaign. The amount of plastic in our oceans is heartbreaking. Our campaign aims to proactively do something about it." The Volvo Ocean Race starts in Alicante on October 22, 2017.
Dee Caffari (left) and AnnCorbell on board their Open 60 "Aviva" in the BarcelonWorld Race