Caffari is an experienced round-the-world sailor who will return for a second consecutive edition, having competed on Team SCA in 2014-15. She is also notable for setting a landmark record in 2006, becoming the first woman to sail single-handed and non-stop the ‘wrong way’ around the world.
Then in 2009, she completed the Vendée Globe race and set a new record to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions.
“It’s an honour to represent this landmark campaign, and to lead the team on such a prestigious platform is exciting,” said Caffari. “Seeing the amount of plastic in the ocean is heartbreaking. We’re abusing our planet – and this campaign is about pushing people to proactively do something about it.
“We will be sailing with a youth-orientated team because the reality is, it’s going to be the next generations who inherit the mess that we’re making now. This is a major issue and we need to encourage this generation, and future generations, to step up.”
The Turn the Tide on Plastic boat will amplify the Volvo Ocean Race’s larger sustainability focus for 2017-18, and joins team AkzoNobel (Simeon Tienpont, Netherlands), Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier, France), MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández, Spain), Vestas 11th Hour Racing (Charlie Enright, USA) and Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (David Witt, Australia) in the fleet for the 2017-18 edition.
The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante 22 October and will stop at Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff and Gothenburg before a big finish in The Hague at the end of June 2018.
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About The Mirpuri Foundation
The Mirpuri Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up by Portuguese businessman Paulo Mirpuri with the aim of making the world a better place for future generations.
Mirpuri himself is no stranger to life offshore, or the Volvo Ocean Race. To raise awareness of the Foundation’s ‘Save The Ocean’ marine conservation campaign, he recently skippered the former Green Dragon Volvo Open 70 yacht – renamed Mirpuri Foundation – on a 2,300-mile passage from Cape Verde to Bermuda.
The six-day voyage was completed by an experienced 10-strong crew, sourced from seven European countries. Aside from marine conservation, the Mirpuri Foundation focuses its resources across many areas including aeronautical and medical education and research, wildlife conservation, social responsibility and performing arts.
Mirpuri is a highly successful investor, philanthropist and a passionate sailor who is also a qualified medical doctor and Airbus-qualified airline pilot.
For further information about the Mirpuri Foundation please email [email protected]
About Ocean Family Foundation
Ocean Family Foundation’s aim is to promote awareness of the effects of pollution, the importance of bio diversity and the necessity for conservation of the world’s oceans. Ocean Family Foundation is a group of likeminded families that have come together to support ocean conservation and clean up. For further information about Ocean Family Foundation please email [email protected] or telephone +44 (0) 207 766 6900