8,000 people were present on the pontoons of L'Orient Nautic - a yachting show in South Brittany - to attend the start of the Race For Water odyssey. Starting with a five-year expedition around the world, the Foundation's objective is to propose solutions for the preservation of the oceans. "With this Odyssey 2017-2021 we want to demonstrate that sustainable solutions exist thanks to innovative technologies, to protect the oceans from pollution", says Marco Simeoni, President of the Foundation.
At the heart of this major project are four missions:
- Promote innovative solutions that can transform plastic waste in energy resources (machine developed with our partner ETIA and whose pilot project will be carried out in autumn 2017).
- Accelerate the energy transition by enhancing the combined solar-hydrogen-kite propulsion of our ambassador ship.
- Contribute to science by hosting international teams of researchers and pedago-scientific projects on board the ship.
- Raise awareness among decision-makers as well as the general public and younger generations.
Race For Water is heading to Bermuda, where it will meet its environmental partner Groupama Team France. "With Groupama Team France we came from the same passion for the oceans and technological performance. Them in the field of sport and us environmental" said Marco Simeoni.
By signing a charter of commitment with the Foundation, they commit themselves to the Odyssey and will carry Race for Water's messages for the preservation of the oceans. For its part, the Race for Water Foundation has undertaken to support Groupama Team France in its efforts against ocean pollution . In this article, we will see how to roll up long ends. In this example the technique is described for a right-handed person.
Promote a water conservation program
The Race for Water Foundation was founded in 2010 to promote a water conservation program around its three founding pillars:
- LEARN: Contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge on water pollution by plastics.
- SHARE: Alert decision-makers, raise awareness among the general public and educate the younger generations.
- ACT: Promote and implement solutions with environmental and social impact.
The first Race for Water Odyssey in 2015 made it possible to implement the first two pillars. It was important to determine the real extent of plastic pollution and to see how aware the populations concerned were in order to identify innovative and effective solutions to this global problem.
For one year, the crew covered 32,000 nautical miles, visited 3 oceans and the 5 major waste concentration areas (called "Gyres" or "Vortex"), made 16 stopovers, collected and analysed 15,420 macro-waste and 196,250 microplastic particles. And the conclusion was clear: it is impossible to clean up the oceans on a large scale.
From now on, the Foundation will tackle the 3 eST PRIS DANS LE GROS TEMPS, ET TANGUE DE GAUCHE ?ROITE, SECOUÉ PAR LES VAGUES. UN HOMME, SANS DOUTE UN PÊCHEUR QUI PARTICIPE À UNE SESSION DE PÊCHE SPORTIVE, PASSE PAR-DESSUS BORD, DE MANIÈRE ASSEZ IMPRESSIONNANTE. pillar of the programme, the "Act" component. On board the catamaran "Race for Water", the crew will take advantage of international events to stop over in areas of interest for scientific research and to reach a wide audience in order to promote concrete solutions for the recovery of plastic waste on land and thus fight against pollution of our oceans. For five years, three major study areas will be visited:
- 2017-2018: Bermuda and California area with the America's Cup
- 2018-2020: North Pacific/China Sea area with the Tokyo Olympics
- 2020-2021: Middle East zone with the Dubai World Expo
An ecological boat to sail around the planet
For its world tour, Race For Water has the world's first demonstration ship using only clean and infinitely renewable energies for its propulsion and life on board. To sail, it will combine various energies: solar, hydrogen and a kite sail.
The "Race for Water" catamaran will be equipped with an extension using hydrogen technologies as an energy carrier.
This totally clean additional energy, stored in the form of compressed hydrogen gas, is generated by using the excess energy produced by the solar generator. Hydrogen is produced on board by electrolysis (rupture of the H20 water molecule) of seawater previously recovered offshore and desalinated. This on-board system will quadruple the ship's range.
Autonomous on land and at sea, the H2 version solar boat thus frees itself from all forms of fossil energy and stands out as a real showcase for "Clean-tech" innovations and energy transition by offering pragmatic, realistic and modern solutions.
The ship is an exceptional reception platform with two laboratories (Dry-Lab and Wet-Lab) and 90 m2 of modular workspace equipped with communication and transmission systems (WiFi, satellite, optics), providing optimal working conditions for researchers from all over the world.
