Charlie Takes the Stage at the One Ocean Summit

Our Team Skipper Charlie Enright was invited to join global policymakers, politicians, and the world’s best offshore sailors at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, where he made a public statement on Ocean Health and the importance of collaboration to drive positive change. 

On Thursday, Team Skipper Charlie Enright spoke at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, calling for concrete action to protect the ocean and reverse its declining health. The conference, an initiative of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, with the support of the United Nations, aimed to establish tangible commitments by global policymakers for years to come.

A passionate advocate for ocean health and marine protection, Charlie joined a diverse panel of experts, politicians, activists, and decision-makers in the Breton city and shared some of his experiences while racing around the world:

“We sailors have the privilege of seeing the ocean in all its awesome glory – whether we are becalmed in the Doldrums or in the rage of the Southern Ocean. However, to continue to stand out as an impactful sport, we must work together to radically change the way we are doing business. We must be ambassadors for the ocean that carries us, and do everything we can to keep it healthy.”

The Summit organizers tasked Charlie and the Team to make a statement about the importance of innovation to better protect the ocean, which he did by taking up key findings and recommendations from the recently published Sustainable Design & Build Report on the build of our new race boat Mālama.

“Across the marine industry, we have to reduce our footprint by 50% by the year 2030 to align with the Paris Agreement.”, explained Charlie. “Within our sport, for too long we have chased performance over a responsibility for the environment and people. We must work together to reduce the impact of boat builds, adopt the use of alternative materials like bio-resins and recycled carbon, lobby for a change to Class and event rules to reward sustainable innovations, and support races and events that are managed with a positive impact on our planet and people.”

Putting the ocean at the forefront of the international agenda for environmental preservation, the One Ocean Summit contributes to the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). This ten-year-long initiative seeks to support transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people to the ocean.

Charlie and an international line-up of sailing talent, including the likes of Vendée Globe winner François Gabart (FRA), Pip Hare (GBR), Yves Parlier (FRA), Lionel Péan (FRA) and Charlie Dalin (FRA) confirmed their commitment by signing the ‘Seafarer’s Appeal for the Ocean’. The Appeal calls on governments around the world to act now for positive ocean health.

“Not one person here alone, not one single government, nor one organization can protect our ocean on their own. It is only through collaboration can we make the radical changes that are required for positive ocean health.”, concluded Charlie.