Why have a Race for the Oceans?

The last journey of the Ocean Story Boat, our journey, was a roller coaster ride, not just in terms of the weather and sailing experience, but in the highs and lows of the exposure to natural wonders and human destruction. The witnessing of how human behaviour has exacted a high toll on the marine life, on the Earth and the indigenous island people and their cultures. Also, how there is just too little acknowledgement and honouring of the wisdoms that these cultures can bring to the discussion, and actually lead humanity back to a greater understanding of how to live in harmony with nature.

The last journey unfortunately was not exceptional in that it revealed:

• Marine life swimming in pollution, seas of plastic and chemical filth, animals maimed by human carelessness, empty and over fished oceans, dead coral reef, beautiful islands strewn with acres of human waste, and oil washed up along the shores.

• The impact of the invasion of “developed” nation cultures through tourism, products, drugs and alcohol, all of which are undermining traditional cultures and eroding the stability of communities.

• People and wildlife left struggling with the effects of climate change and very little natural resource by which to survive any longer, as their land and food sources are fast disappearing.

Also along this journey we were blessed through having the privilege of meeting and being welcomed by some amazing and incredibly beautiful tribes and communities. People that had kept love at the heart of their society and had, despite the constant onslaught from the invasion of outside influences, managed to stay living in harmony with the natural world.

The decision was taken to review the journey and answer the question – what good could be taken from this experience? We followed this with two further questions, “What would we do if we knew that we could not fail?” and “If not us, then who?”

Our answer was to set a project into motion that achieved the following goals:-

• Provide an exciting and celebratory platform from which to share the treasures of our indigenous cultures.
• Create a beautiful library, in film, of storytelling, art, music, mythology and wisdom teachings.
• Share the magical connection that is possible between man and the natural world.
• Educate through awareness the perils of the current natural world upheavals.
• Communicate the message that we are all indigenous and a part of the natural world and must care for and protect it.

This project is not to create or identify victims of global climate change. It is already in the minds of too many people that the climate changes affect “others” and not “us”.

The aim of this project is to touch the heart of humanity and bring to the world’s attention voices of leadership from those cultures, celebrating their wisdoms and revealing the precious knowledge that they possess, particularly on the subject of living in harmony with nature.

The regatta will be a beautiful spectacle of colour, with the racing yachts designed in traditional art heading off on this world tour for natural world awareness.

The next question is “If not you, then who?”