An aerial view of a boat sailing in a vast, dark blue ocean, leaving a white wake trail behind.

It all starts with the ocean.

We all start with the ocean.

Why ocean health matters ?

“The ocean has given me so much in my life—my passion, my career, and a deep sense of purpose. It’s where I go to work most days, it's our life source, and it's the beating heart of our planet. But it’s also fragile, and we are responsible for protecting it.

Every small action matters, from reducing plastic waste to advocating for making sustainable seafood choices to supporting ocean conservation efforts.

I want my daughter Harriet, her children, her grandchildren, and their grandchildren to also experience the beauty and power of the ocean and all that lives in it, just as I have.

Each of us must all do our part to keep it healthy."

– Francesca Clapcich

A stylized illustration of a fish with mechanical or robotic elements, including circular joints and segments, in a dark blue color with two small circles representing bubbles above.

Stylized digital illustration of a sunset or sunrise over a cloud in shades of orange and beige with star and dot accents.

Dolphins playing in the swell while underway at Astoria Canyon

Why ocean health matters?

For Francesca the health of the ocean is paramount. This stems from:

A personal connection: her lifelong relationship with the sea has instilled a deep appreciation for its beauty and fragility.
A belief in environmental responsibility: recognizing the critical role the ocean plays in regulating our climate and supporting biodiversity, she is committed to combating pollution and promoting sustainable practices.
A commitment to educational outreach: engaging with communities who are impacted by sea-level rises and biodiversity changes, she takes a proactive role to support ocean conservation.
A recognition of the social and cultural benefits: humans can get so much from a healthy ocean, such as food, security, livelihoods, and recreational opportunities.

Ocean waves crashing with a large wave in the foreground and cloudy sky in the background.

Ocean view under a cloudy sky with a rainbow and a flying seagull.

Our actions

Sustainable operations: at a minimum we measure our impact - travel, waste, water consumption, energy etc - and reduce our usage wherever possible before we mitigate our unavoidable footprint. We refuse avoidable single-use plastics wherever possible and commit to working with our suppliers and partners to help them to reduce theirs as well. We have used The Sustainability Toolbox to put in place our Constitution and an environmental program that addresses our impact on the planet, and the ocean.

Mentorship and advocacy: we are developing a program to work with young sailors and community groups, advocating for inclusivity and environmental awareness within the sailing community.

Scientific Research: when we go racing, we’ll get involved with Citizen Science and collect data on ocean conditions, contributing valuable information to the scientific community.

Climate justice: Individuals and communities most affected by climate and ocean health impacts should be centred in the way we prepare for, respond to, and recover from them. We are developing an Advisory Group, a Storytelling Platform, and an Advocacy Playbook to elevate and integrate those voices into our work.

Abstract illustration with large, wavy blue shapes, a small orange circle, and a small light blue circle on a black background.

Here’s Francesca’s Top Five Facts about the ocean

The ocean produces most of Earth's oxygen

While terrestrial plants contribute to our oxygen supply, it's the ocean that generates about 70% of Earth's oxygen, thanks to marine plants like algae and phytoplankton. We need to keep it healthy so we can stay healthy!

Source: thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org

Abstract blue and dark blue geometric shape resembling a stylized leaf or petal.

1

The ocean houses Earth's longest mountain range

Beneath the waves lies the Mid-Ocean Ridge, the planet's longest mountain chain, that wraps around the globe like seams on a baseball for around 65,000 kilometers (over 40,000 miles!). This underwater range remains less explored than the surfaces of Venus or Mars.

Source: Trafalgar

2

The ocean Is home to the majority of Earth's life

A staggering 94% of Earth's living species are aquatic, showcasing the ocean's incredible biodiversity.

Source: Trafalgar

3

Protecting the ocean is a social justice issue too

The ocean is a crucial source of food, livelihoods, and cultural identity for millions of people, especially in coastal and island communities. However, climate change, pollution, and overfishing impact marginalized communities that rely on the ocean for survival. Protecting ocean ecosystems is not just an environmental issue—it’s a social justice issue, ensuring that vulnerable populations maintain their rights to resources, food security, and sustainable economic opportunities.

Source: Ocean Conservancy

4

The Ocean's Depths Are Largely Unexplored

Despite covering over 70% of Earth's surface, more than 80% of the ocean remains unexplored and unmapped, holding mysteries yet to be discovered. Did you know that according to the Ocean Census 1-2 million species are currently estimated to live in the ocean, but only 240,000 have been discovered and named to date.

Source: National Geographic Kids & Ocean Census

5

To learn more about what 11th Hour Racing is doing for the health of the ocean, check out their website.

A huge thank you to our friends at Schmidt Ocean Institute for rights to use their images which were shared through a Creative Commons licence

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

11th Hour racing website

We need to take significant, urgent action to improve the lives of billions of people: ocean health is public health. Through our Purpose Plan we aim to maximize our positive impact on people within our communities and beyond, and the planet, minimizing our footprint at every step. High emissions sees increased carbon uptake in the ocean, which brings more ocean acidifications and warming seas, sea levels rises, and biodiversity collapse. The clock is ticking but with action today, we can leave the ocean a better place for current and future generations.

– Francesca Clapcich

A sailboat navigating on open ocean under dark, stormy sky with rain falling from clouds.

Abstract pie chart with segments in orange, beige, and red.

Illustration of a red fist bumping a yellow fist

Keep up with the team

Subscribe to receive news and updates.

SIGN UP