London, England – 25th September –The International SeaKeepers Society (SeaKeepers) is proud to announce its exciting partnership with The Maiden Factor Foundation and Tracy Edwards MBE, in a joint effort to support SeaKeepers’ mission of advancing ocean research, conservation and education.
As part of this collaboration, The Maiden Factor has taken a lead role in one of SeaKeepers’ global Citizen Science initiatives, The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. This project is a flagship programme of the United Nations’ Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, with the ambitious goal of achieving a complete map of the ocean floor by 2030. Currently, our understanding of the seafloor is incomplete, hindering various critical aspects of ocean science, including ocean circulation and climate models, resource management, tsunami forecasting, public safety, sediment transportation and environment change.
Tracy Edwards MBE and her all-female crew aboard the iconic yacht Maiden proudly stand as partners in this global initiative, contributing to the essential mapping of the seafloor. Understanding the seafloor’s topography is fundamental for addressing pressing challenges related to ocean health and sustainability.
“We are so excited to be part of the Seabed 2030 Project and to assist in this important collection of data of the oceans as Maiden races around the world in the OGR 2023. Maiden’s focus on girls’ education means that we engage with girls all over the world who are at the forefront of Climate Activism. To actively be part of research which can inform conservationists and ultimately protect our oceans is an honour,” says Tracy Edwards MBE.
Helen Snaith, Head of Seabed 2030 Global Centre and Head of Data Research and Services at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), recently met us in Hamble Point Marina to spend some time with the Maiden crew and talk about this global programme. While there she presented Maiden with a Seabed 2030 banner and burgee and wished them well for the Ocean Globe Race (OGR).
"Just as Tracy and her crew chart new horizons in sailing, Seabed 2030 is committed to mapping the mysteries of our seabed. We share a common vision to explore the unknown and break barriers," commented Helen Snaith. "It was an honour to meet with Maiden's crew before they embark upon their extraordinary race around the world, and I wish them all the best of luck!"
Maiden’s charitable arm, The Maiden Factor Foundation, shares SeaKeepers’ commitment to providing open-access educational opportunities to benefit the global community. The two organizations are working together with marine educators and other non-profits to offer engaging ways for the next generation to become involved in environmental conservation, particularly focusing on ocean conservation and research. Through online activities, free of charge, they aim to inspire and educate children of all ages, nurturing their interest in STEM subjects and ocean science.
Since September 2018, the historic yacht Maiden has been on a world tour, covering nearly 75,000 nautical miles and visiting over 40 destinations. During this tour, Maiden has engaged with schools, charities, and organizations as part of its mission to empower and educate girls worldwide. However, this September, Maiden embarked on a new adventure, the Ocean Globe Race (OGR) 2023.
The OGR is a fully crewed retro race, evoking the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, commemorating its 50th anniversary. This eight-month adventure will take Maiden around the world, covering a 27,000-mile route across four legs, including treacherous passages through the Southern Ocean and past the three Great Capes. The race will feature stopovers in iconic locations such as Cape Town, Auckland, and Punta del Este, ultimately concluding back in Southampton, England in April 2024. Maiden will continue to map the ocean floor throughout her journey, contributing invaluable data to the Seabed 2030 Project.
“SeaKeepers is honored to partner with the dynamic vessel and crew of Maiden,” says Gill Rodrigues, SeaKeepers Director of International Relations. “A vessel which exemplifies the spirit of discovery and a shared commitment to expanding our knowledge of the world’s oceans.”
Together, SeaKeepers, The Maiden Factor Foundation & Seabed 2030 are dedicated to the vital cause of preserving our ocean and educating future generations about their importance.
For more information, please visit:
- The International SeaKeepers Society: www.seakeepers.org
- The Maiden Factor Foundation: https://themaidenfactor.org/
- Seabed 2030: https://seabed2030.org/
For more information, please contact Gill Rodrigues, Director of International Relations
About The International SeaKeepers Society
The International SeaKeepers Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that facilitates oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community. Providing educational resources and hands-on marine science experiences to students is the primary focus for ensuring the wellbeing of our planet. SeaKeepers enables the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and raise awareness about global ocean issues.
Founded in Monaco in 1998, The International SeaKeepers Society has been supporting ocean conservation through direct involvement with the yachting community for twenty-five years. What started as a data collection program aboard select luxury yachts, has evolved to engage thousands of participants annually with at-sea and coastal programming. Today SeaKeepers’ mission is focused on the DISCOVERY Yacht Program which is comprised of Scientist-Led Expeditions, Citizen Science, Educational Outreach, and Community Engagement.
SeaKeepers is a catalyst working with governments, scientists, institutions, and other marine organizations to further its mission and support sensible, achievable marine protection and restoration. Activities take place globally through the efforts of headquarters based in the United States with offices located on the east and west coast, and international representation in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the South Pacific. For more information, please visit www.seakeepers.org.
About The Maiden Factor
MAIDEN’S MISSION – EDUCATE A GIRL AND CHANGE THE WORLD!
Inequality exists in many societies around the world; girls and women face countless obstacles and discrimination on a daily basis just because they were born female. Poverty, illiteracy, minority status, disability, early marriage as well as cultural attitudes are barriers that negatively impact on them throughout their lives. Being denied access to education is one of the biggest barriers for over 100 million girls around the world.
Together with Maiden, Tracy continues the battle for equality for the next generation, raising awareness of the importance of education for girls and raising money for communities and charities around the world to ensure that girls have access to education. The past few years Maiden and her crew have sailed over 70,000 nautical miles, visited nearly 50 destinations in over 20 countries and have met with thousands of girls from all walks of life; inspiring and empowering them to believe, whatever their background, they can build better futures for themselves, their families and communities.
About Seabed 2030
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO. The Seabed 2030 Project, launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017 by Chairman Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation, coordinates and oversees the sourcing and compilation of bathymetric data from different parts of the world’s ocean through its five centres into the freely-available GEBCO Grid. Four Regional Centres cover the Southern Ocean, the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and the South and West Pacific Ocean. These feed data products into the Global Data Centre. The IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry (DCDB) serves as the long-term archive for Seabed 2030.