Marine protection is climate protection
A Race We Must Win
Nature has been an integral part of The Ocean Race since it first set sail in 1973. It is at the heart of The Ocean Race's work. The focus has not only been on plastic pollution in the oceans, but also on climate change and ocean conservation. Recognising the rights of the ocean is at the centre of interest.
The Ocean Race supports the global goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, reducing them to zero by 2040 and keeping warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The oceans have a special role to play as "climate heroes". This is because over 70 per cent of our planet is covered by water, which means that protecting the oceans is particularly important for climate protection.
Marine conservation city Kiel
With this in mind, the city of Kiel is consciously not only Kiel.Sailing.Ctiy, but also a marine conservation city. The sport of sailing, the proximity to the sea and the entire tradition of the city are based on this attitude. For this reason, the partnership between The Ocean Race and the City of Kiel is a "natural" one in the literal sense of the word: nothing could be more obvious than to combine our common concerns and to make them tangible for many people with the start of The Ocean Race Europe in Kiel - far beyond the borders of our city.
Website:
Marine Conservation City Kiel
Mirko Gröschner
The Ocean Race 1973 S.L.
One team - on board and on land
“Only together we will win this race.”
The Ocean Race is part of an extensive network of experts and renowned scientific institutes worldwide, such as the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. However, many companies in Kiel and the region are also involved and develop a wide variety of measuring devices that the teams have on board during their races to take samples from the oceans. The data collection provides scientists with essential insights into the exploration of the oceans and thus forms the basis for solid knowledge on climate change.
António Guterres
UN Secretary-General,
The Ocean Race Summit in Mindelo
“Ending the ocean crisis is a race we must win. Working together, it’s a race we can win.”
Measuring devices on board the IMOCAs
Drifter buoys, Argofloater and Ocean Pack
The scientists provide the teams with a wide range of equipment on board so that they can take measurements on the oceans. Whether it is continuously with the Ocean Pack permanently installed in the boat or over a period of several years, for example with drifter buoys or Argofloaters:
The international Argo programme is a collaboration between more than 50 research organisations from over 30 countries to provide important observation data from the world's oceans. Argofloaters dive to a predetermined depth of around 1,000 metres, where they drift passively with the ocean currents for around 10 days. They then sink to depths of 2,000 to 6,000 metres. From there, the floats rise to the surface and measure data on temperature, salinity and pressure, among other things, during the ascent, so-called vertical profiles of the respective measured variables. After surfacing, the data is transmitted via satellite in near real time to national data centres, where it is analysed.