Discover ways to make a difference

Wherever you are cruising, there are many ways you can give back to the local communities and environment in the places you visit (particularly in more remote areas).

The biggest story right now (July 2024) is the cruisers that are assisting with aid to the hurricane-stricken communities in the Caribbean Windward Islands. Small boats can get to where large commercial vessels can’t and they are vital in bringing emergency supplies in the initial aftermath. Find out more at Hurricane Beryl’s Destructive Path – How You Can Help.

By researching your destination you can discover ways to make a difference.

Whether it’s helping with school and medical supplies to isolated villages, hosting research scientists, raising environmental awareness in schools, offering technical assistance or simply delivering packages, you will reap the benefits of making a positive contribution to the places you voyage to.

This page showcases cruisers who are determined to have a positive impact on the places they sail to, their projects, plus a wide range of citizen-science projects open to sailors worldwide.

Follow the links at the bottom of the page to read articles, news and find many useful links to existing projects worldwide that you can get involved with.

Read: Richard Chesher’s article on Cruising Kindly

Cruisers making an impact

Just a small a sample of what some cruisers are doing to help the communities they visit:

Oceanic Outreach

The brainchild of long-term offshore explorer and sailor John Neal, Ocean Outreach will be a forum where cruisers exploring remote locations post what they identify is needed by the local communities so that those now underway or planning their cruises can take note and purchase the needed supplies for their visits. Still in the planning stages, the forum will be officially launched at the Annapolis Boat Show in 2024. To find out more about Oceanic Outreach go here.

Matuku Marine Reserve

The islanders of Matuku, in Fiji’s Lau group, have decided to implement three big “Tabu” (traditional ban) no-fishing zones around their island to protect all species of reef fish, thanks to the efforts of Austrian cruisers Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldhauer. Find out more here.

Manta Ray Research in Mexico

Alene Rice and Bruce Balan are sailing citizen scientists who support manta ray research. The couple has been working with the Pacific Manta Research Group to create a citizen science project for sailors in Mexico by observing the manta rays and taking their photo together with other informations (location, date/time, manta’s estimated wingspan, color of back and specific markings). Find out more here.

Louisiade Solar Light Project

Danish cruiser Hans Clemmensen makes regular voyages aboard his yacht SV Seagoon from Cairns, Australia, to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to set up solar power systems in a region where electricity is either not available or not sustainable. Find out more about Hans and his original project here, also his recent work at https://www.facebook.com/LouisiadeSolaLightProject.

Books Build Bridges

Candice and Mark McMillan have sailed the Caribbean for the past five years and became aware that there were many areas in need of library books for children. Candice founded the Trinidadian NGO – Books Build Bridges – to help thousands of children have access to resources that were previously out of reach. The recent donation of 10,000 retired U.S. children’s library books by Books Build Bridges to the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) marks a significant contribution to the literacy and educational landscape in Jamaica. Find out more here.

Hope Fleet International

Hope Fleet have been growing direct relationships with local island communities in the Bahamas and Caribbean since 2019. Their Ocean Reach Division works with cruisers (power and sail) to help them deliver needed materials, supplies, and labor to people in need, particularly children. Hope Fleet are co-ordinating hurricane relief aid to the Windward Island communities affected by Hurricane Beryl. Find out more here.

Cruising Associations

The Bluewater Cruising Association launched a new initiative in May 2024 called “Environmentally and Socially Responsible Cruising”, based on one of BCA’s core values: Caring: Respecting our environment, the communities we visit and each other. Find out more at https://www.bluewatercruising.org/page/Enviropracticespublic.

The Seven Seas Cruising Assocation showcase a number of Clean Wake Projects. To leave a clean wake is to show respect for others and for the environment so that those who follow in our wake will be warmly welcomed. It is SSCA’s most cherished tradition and they have partnered with a number of humanitarian and environmental projects that sailors can support. Find out more at https://www.ssca.org/cleanwake.

Yacht Rallies

World ARC and Global Vision 2020: One of the World ARC traditions is to help sailors get involved in community and charitable initiatives along the route. In Vava’u, Tonga, the rally delivered two eye screening kits plus 240 pairs of in-field prescription distance and reading glasses for adults and children on behalf of Global Vision 2020.  Circumnavigating with World ARC 2024-25 on her boat Bahati (GBR) is specialist optometrist Sian Joesbury, who was delighted to help with the project.

Follow the links below to read articles, news and find many useful links to existing projects worldwide that you can get involved with (under useful resources).