Green Living!
Around the world yacht racing enthusiasts just say no to fossil fuels?
[Apr. 21]
You don’t have to be a full-time green celebrity to realize that going green makes perfect sense. Called “the world’s ultimate solo challenge,” wind power fuels an eight month solo yacht race around the world that has been held every four years since 1982. The race began in La Rochelle, France in October, and is expected to conclude after the fifth and final leg of the race from Charleston, SC, back to La Rochelle.
“I’m not an environmentalist, or I don’t thump it too hard, but I am there,” said Derek Hatfield of Nova Scotia, who has placed second in the latest leg of the race, according to Reuters. “Things have changed a lot more than we think. I hope it’s not too late. I hope that we can make a difference.”
And that’s the perfect attitude to take. We may not all be green celebrities able to afford green technologies to help us get away from fossil fuels completely, but demonstrating that it can be done, over the long haul, especially for such a grueling race, is promising.
These green skippers are sailing what are called “Eco 60s”, which are old Open 60 yachts outfitted with solar panels, wind generators, and hydrogenerators that power the autopilots, GPS, satellite phones, and laptops that the skippers use while on the seas.
“The goal, of course, is not to use any fossil fuel at all,” said Derek.
Each boat does have a clunky diesel engine aboard in case of emergency and to help get the ships into and out of ports. But they are used rarely, and the competitors are trying to demonstrate that they really aren’t necessary to make such a trip.
“The idea of this eco concept is to make the boats economical and to use sustainability practices for making electricity on a boat,” said race leader Brad Van Liew.
Those who have sailed the race before reported seeing a changed ocean environment with warmer waters and fewer dolphin and whale sightings.
“The sea is becoming like a desert,” Hatfield said. “It really is very barren.”
We here at GCN find that rather unfortunate. We have to wonder if the lack of ocean life spotted by the skippers is a result of shipping lanes, overfishing, oil spills, or some other cause that may be killing off sea life or forcing it into new habitats. But we absolutely respect the mission these would-be green celebrities are on, to complete a race around the world in a totally green fashion. We hope others will take up the challenge and become a green celebrity in his or her own right at home if not on the high seas. You don’t have go green full time to go green.
Fans can check out Ocean Sprint 4 for more updates from the skippers as they travel. You can listen to audio reports, see video, and check out pictures of these daring adventurers while they’re on the high seas.