24h Pure Ocean: a general mobilization for the preservation of the ocean
Sailing, networking and sharing were the watchwords of this 3rd edition of the 24H Pure Ocean.
At 5pm on Thursday September 28, 9 sailing boats set off from the Union Nautique Marseillaise towards the Frioul Islands for a 24-hour challenge: to circumnavigate the islands as many times as possible and raise as much money as possible for the NGO Pure Ocean.
Ludovic Gérard, Pure Ocean ambassador and long-time patron of the Marseille-based NGO, is behind this annual nautical event. “In the beginning, the 24 H Pure Ocean were a challenge I put to my skipper friends. The cause defended by Pure Ocean is so beautiful and so essential – to protect the ocean – that I’m delighted to see that this year’s 24h has succeeded in attracting more participants and raising even more funds!”
Awareness-raising, networking and solidarity on the agenda
This year, in addition to the autonomous boats, Pure Ocean wanted to mobilize local businesses by offering four-hour slots aboard the catamaran Le Levantin to follow the challenge live. Main sponsor of the NGO, Seafoodia, headed by David Sussmann, also founder of Pure Ocean, seized the opportunity to bring its teams and partners on board to support the challenge’s runners.
On Friday morning aboard Le Levantin, Pure Ocean, in partnership with La Coque and La Cité des Entrepreneurs, welcomed 40 business and civil society players for a morning of awareness-raising on the challenges of ocean preservation, followed by informal exchanges on corporate commitment.
In the afternoon, still aboard Le Levantin, Pure Ocean, in partnership with the Proman Foundation, welcomed some 30 young people from the Marseille Mission Locale, EPIDE, La Voix de l’Enfant, Collect 113, Secours Populaire Français and the AKSIS Group, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the ocean.
The PURE OCEAN 24h challenge podium
To reward the participants who sailed during the 24-hour challenge, three trophies, made by the Sauvage association from recycled plastic waste collected on Marseille’s beaches, were awarded to :
- Aymeric Gentil on Alwena Shipping: most laps (9 laps)
- Ludovic Gérard on Solenn for Pure Ocean: most funds raised (€3,300)
- Erik Lacoste on Toyota Auto Sprinter: the most deserving with the most guest crew (19)
Successful fundraising
Thanks to the involvement of Union Nautique Marseillaise, l’Anse de la Réserve, the crews of Alwena Shipping, Banque Populaire Méditerranée (BPMED), Solenn for Pure Ocean, Prendre la mer, agir pour la forêt, Figaro 3 (Ponant), Toyota Auto Sprinter, Jubilation, Pejarc, Svanevit (Projet Gyptis), et de Seafoodia, La Coque, la Cité des Entrepreneurs et Proman, les 24H Pure Ocean ont été un succès.
With €16,650 raised, the 2023 edition of the 24H Pure Ocean beat the 2022 record of €15,050. This sum will be used to fund new scientific projects resulting from the Pure Ocean 2024 call for projects.
The “coup de coeur” moment
The Svanevit (Projet Gyptis), one of the most beautiful yachts in the original class, specifically designed and built in 1939 for the Olympic Games, joined the 24H on Friday. A feast for the eyes!
To support ocean research, the 24H fund is still open!
