In addition to funding research projects, Pure Ocean also promotes races and sporting challenges to raise public awareness of the plight of our oceans. The Race for Pure Ocean are exceptional races, run by outstanding athletes, alone or in teams, selected to draw maximum attention to endangered marine ecosystems and the importance of protecting them.
Race for Pure Ocean 2023
Race for Pure Ocean 2022
Race for Pure Ocean 2021
Race for Pure Ocean 2020
Race for Pure Ocean 2019Do as many circumnavigations of Frioul as you can for 24 hours to protect the ocean!
For this3rd edition of the 24h Pure Ocean, we invite you to take part in this day of awareness-raising for marine protection, by joining the fleet of sailing boats taking up the challenge of circumnavigating the island of Frioul as far as possible in 24 hours.
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness of ocean preservation
EDITION 2023
Jean-Pierre Dick and his crew won this monohull transatlantic race on the “JP54 Notre Méditerranée Ville de Nice” with a record time of 11 days 8 hours 38 minutes and 23 seconds, beating the reference time of 12 days 23 hours and 28 minutes set in 1979 for monohulls.
On the multihull side , Vincent Willemart and his crew won this transatlantic race on the “Banzaï” with a record time of 11 days 13 hours 53 minutes and 8 seconds! The previous crossing time of 12 days 23 hours and 16 minutes was set 40 years ago by Eugène Riguidel and Jean-François le Menec.
The Race Cruise EDHEC commits to Pure Ocean
For its 55th edition, the Course Croisière EDHEC is committed to protecting the ocean by supporting Pure Ocean!
Nearly 1,800 students will have the opportunity to compete:
There’s something for everyone every taste!
In 2022, Pure Ocean became the official cause of the Marseille-Cassis, the legendary foot race through the Parc National des Calanques.
For its 43rd edition, SCO St Marguerite, organizer of the legendary Marseille-Cassis race, has decided to support Pure Ocean!
Do the most laps of Frioul in 24 hours to protect the ocean!
Pure Ocean and the CNTL are organizing the second Pure Ocean 24-hour race around the Îles du Frioul to raise public awareness of marine protection. Ludovic Gérard, aboard the Solenn for Pure Ocean, will be leading the way, accompanied by other sailing boats!
Sailing in Marseille to protect marine biodiversity
Following a successful first edition in September 2021, the Pure Ocean Cup Marseille returns in 2022!
Departing from Marseille’s Vieux Port on September 21, 2022, take part in a unique regatta combining science, sporting challenge and ocean protection in aid of Pure Ocean.
A magnificent mountain trail in support of ocean research
The Montgenèvre Sky Race is one of the most beautiful trails in France, and its success is largely due to the beauty of the landscape in which it takes place.
Comprising 4 magnificent races in the mountains surrounding the village of Montgenèvre on the Italian border, the Sky Race has chosen to support Pure Ocean for its 23rd edition!
First qualifying race for the Vendée Globe 2024
The Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne is the first qualifying race for the Vendée Globe 2024. It’s a demanding ocean race, to be completed single-handed, non-stop and without assistance.
Starting on June 12, 25 adventurers will embark on this 3500-mile race in the waters of the Far North, and enjoy an experience like no other.
Great news: Pure Ocean will be present throughout the event, in partnership with IMOCA, to talk about its actions and ocean protection. U n online tombola has been created for the occasion to enable everyone to take part in Pure Ocean’s actions!
A sporting challenge in the service of the environment
Ludovic Gerard & Nicolas Brossay, two loyal Pure Ocean ambassadors, set off in May 2022 on the Cap Martinique, a race committed to nature in which the two amateur sailors proudly wore the Pure Ocean colors. For this first edition, the Solenn for Pure Ocean crew took first place on the podium! A great source of pride for them, of course, but also for the entire Pure Ocean team, which is proud to have two committed and victorious ambassadors at its side!
The adventure continues in 2022!
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness of ocean conservation
Following two successful editions in 2020 and 2021 between St Pierre et Miquelon and Lorient, the Pure Ocean Challenge will take place between Bermuda and Lorient in May 2022.
BERMUDES LORIENT – PURE OCEAN CHALLENGE, proposed by PURE OCEAN, ABSOLUTE
DREAMER and LORIENT GRAND LARGE is a sailing challenge across the Atlantic, open to all types of sailboats, with several objectives:
Its vocation is to be “another” race, focused on the urgency of saving the ocean and the means to achieve it.
Do the most laps of Frioul in 24 hours to protect the ocean!
Pure Ocean and the CNTL are organizing a 24-hour nautical event around Frioul Island to raise public awareness of marine protection. Ludovic Gérard, aboard Solenn for Pure Ocean, will be leading the way, accompanied by other sailing boats.
At the World Conservation Congress, come and sail for the protection of marine biodiversity
Departing from Marseille’s Vieux Port, committed companies took part in a unique regatta combining science, sporting challenge and ocean protection in aid of Pure Ocean.
The “PURE OCEAN CUP FOR BIODIVERSITY”, a committed
and fun regatta, is an opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize companies around
the Ocean and its preservation during the World Conservation Congress.
The Pure Ocean Cup for Biodiversity was held in conjunction with the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille from September 3 to 11, 2021. We gave a talk on the challenges of ocean research for the protection of the marine world, which gave rise to exchanges on the latest congress news.
1 sporting challenge in the service of the environment
We’re two sailors with a shared passion for the ocean and sailing. Adversaries in previous regattas, our friendship has grown over the years, leading us to sail together on Solenn.
Beyond this passion, we share common values that make us a powerful team with almost no limits! During our regattas and maritime expeditions, we have become aware of the degradation of the ocean and the need to take action. We’re clear about the fact that our playground is fragile, and we want to protect it and act to preserve the ocean and marine biodiversity.
For us, sailing is a magical sport, with its share of history and tradition, but above all because of the eco-responsible solution it represents. The seas and oceans are in danger, the air we breathe is polluted, and human beings need to reinvent the way they travel to limit environmental impact. Beyond the human challenge, sport is also a technological workshop. The progress made in sailing will benefit the search for innovative solutions for maritime transport. Today, we are all involved in protecting our planet, and every gesture counts, so we wanted to race in the name of an environmental cause.
The Pure Ocean Foundation was an obvious choice. Indeed, we share the same passion for the ocean, the protection of the environment and in particular the marine environment. As a result, the boat’s racing name will be Solenn for Pure Ocean for the two 2020/2021 seasons!
4 women for an extreme challenge across France to save the ocean.
From August 9 to 15, 2021, 4 women engaged in a non-stop relay, Emilie Bertheaume, Emma Clair Dumont, Barbara Charpentier & Lisa Krumnikl will rally the sea from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, during an unprecedented challenge, and raise funds for the protection of the ocean!
1 incredible sailing project, committed to the Ocean
What is the Mini-Transat?
Why this challenge?
Originally from the Alps, I’ve been immersed in outdoor sports since I was very young.
The combination of my passion for sailing and the mountain environment in which I grew up have made me a complete athlete, a jack-of-all-trades, with a particular taste for wind and glide.
The Mini-Transat is the next logical step in my career. My experience as a naval architect and my love of the elements led me to embark on this exceptional adventure. Today, I devote 100% of my time to this project. Not everything happens at sea! On land, the technical, physical and mental preparation and the search for sponsors/partners make this adventure an entrepreneurial project, a life apprenticeship condensed into 2 years!
An Atlantic crossing to raise awareness of ocean protection.
After a successful first edition in 2020, Route Saint-Pierre & Miquelon and Pure Ocean will organize the second edition of the Route Saint-Pierre Lorient – Défi Pure Ocean in 2021. The start is set for Monday June 14 at 18h 18 min and 34 sec UTC.
The Route Saint-Pierre Lorient – Pure Ocean Challenge is a sailing challenge across the Atlantic, between Saint-Pierre & Miquelon and Lorient, open to all types of sailboats and any floating support pushed by the wind, with several objectives:
Its vocation is to be an “other” race, focused on the urgency of saving the ocean and the means of doing so.
Sébastien Destremau, aboard “Merci”, is taking up the Vendée Globe challenge in an eco-responsible way, raising funds for the oceans.
Electric motors, carbon offsetting and a cardboard cap are not enough for skipper Sébastien Destremau, who has joined forces with Pure Ocean. His aim is to raise funds for scientific research and environmental preservation.
Help Sébastien raise funds for the ocean!
“MERCI” AND ITS ECO-RESPONSIBLE SKIPPER
Beneath his air of modern-day artist-poet, Sébastien is a man of convictions. A man who fully embraces his choices, his electrically-powered engine almost cost him his place on the starting line… because of a recalcitrant battery. Rescued at the very last minute, Sébastien will indeed be at the start of the planetary loop.
Another strong choice is the sailor’s protective cap, at the stern of the boat, which is made entirely of cardboard. “I hope that one day, all the non-structural elements of our boats will be made from bio-sourced materials. In addition, a study carried out by EcoAct has estimated that the overall “merci” project (over 2 1/2 years) will emit 89 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. These emissions will be fully offset thanks to certified carbon sequestration projects.
Lilian Dauzat and Guilhem Orlhac take up an extreme challenge and raise funds for the ocean.
A few days before the scheduled departure in 2019, Lilian and Guilhem had to abandon their departure, following an injury to Guilhem’s thumb. But the team came back stronger and turned “this crisis into an opportunity to make an even more beautiful crossing”.
On November 21, the duo will be back at it again, setting off on a new adventure. from the Canary Islands to row to Martinique. This extraordinary challenge demands exceptional physical and mental endurance: more climbers have climbed Everest than rowers have crossed an ocean. Their shared passion for extreme challenges and for the oceans led them to take up this challenge in aid of Pure Ocean.
These two seasoned adventurers will row 5,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean aboard a 7.3 m monohull, on shifts of 2 hours rowing/2 hours rest. They will spend between 40 and 50 days on the boat in complete autonomy. The energy they need for on-board instruments, lighting and communication will be generated by the solar panels fitted to the boat.
Despite the extreme weather conditions, physical fatigue and stress, we can count on our two champions to go all the way for our oceans!
Support them throughout their adventure by sending them a “bottle to the sea”.
An underwater trek to protect the ocean.
Every second, 250 kg of plastic waste reaches the ocean. To raise awareness of this scourgefive members of the Watch The Sea association took concrete action to protect the environment by Seatrekking the entire length of the Parc des Calanques – some 25 kilometers in 3 days.
But what is Seatrekking? Seatrekking is an original concept combining the sporting adventure of underwater hiking and the protection of the oceans. Participants cover long stretches of coastline independently over several days, equipped with fins, mask and snorkel.
These excursions are an opportunity for everyone to take concrete action to protect the environment. Cleaning up the seabed and collecting information on the state of biodiversity are naturally an integral part of the association’s civic activities.
As part of the Calanques Propres 2020 operation, Watch the Sea was involved from October 17 to 19 as an active player in raising awareness and bringing about change, as well as raising funds for the Pure Ocean Foundation. Find out more.
A legendary transatlantic race to raise awareness of the ocean’s fragility
A 2150 nautical mile transatlantic sail from St Pierre et Miquelon to Lorient? With the crazy idea of beating Eric Tabarly’s legendary record of 10 days, 1 hour and 31 minutes?
This year, Jean-Pierre Dick’s JP 54 and Morgane Poupon’s Class 40 will be on the starting line in mid-July for the Pure Ocean Challenge – Route St Pierre Lorient.
David Sussmann, president and founder of Pure Ocean, will be taking part in the Challenge on The Kid, Jean-Pierre Dick’s JP54. During the race, David will share his logbook with us. Each day, he’ll make a video about his feelings during the transatlantic race, but above all he’ll talk to us about the ocean, the threats it faces and the role of science and researchers in finding solutions to protect it every day!
The event will raise awareness of the importance of protecting the ocean and raise funds for research programs.
The first underwater marathon to combine sporting challenge and awareness of the ocean’s fragility
On June 8, 2020, Pure Ocean is organizing a relay underwater marathon to raise awareness of the critical situation of the ocean. In the bay of Marseilles, scuba divers will help you discover the Mediterranean.
A mobilizing event, starting in Marseilles, this Underwater Marathon will unite numerous diving clubs, institutions and sponsors around an ambitious and unprecedented challenge.
More than 300 amateur swimmers will tackle this challenging distance in the final leg of the EDF Aqua Challenge.
This year, as part of the Prom’Swim, the whole of Nice will be swimming for the Oceans on Saturday, September 21!
10 km open water swim: an exceptional distance, open to all, because amateur swimmers are also exceptional athletes. Start at 9 a.m. from Plage des Ponchettes.
Prom’Swim, the final stage of the EDF Aqua Challenge, is committed to the oceans, and the 10 km event has become a Race for Pure Ocean! Throughout the weekend, Prom’Swim is committed to recycling its waste and reducing its impact on the environment. This year, there will be no straws, plastic plates or cutlery in the race village, and a major clean-up of the Ponchettes beach on Friday, September 20 at 6pm!
A great opportunity to prove their commitment to the environment and raise funds for the protection of marine ecosystems with Pure Ocean.
Alex Caizergues, world kitesurfing speed champion, is committed to the oceans and is attempting to set a new record.
Alex Caizergues is currently the most successful French kitesurfer, with 4 World Champion titles and 3 French Champion speed titles to his credit. He is the current world kitesurfing speed record holder: 107.3 km/h average speed over 500 meters. In August 2019, he will set a new reference time to affirm his commitment to protecting the oceans.
As a Pure Ocean ambassador, Alex has set himself a major challenge for the oceans. He has set a course of 100 kilometers between Essaouira and Agadir, which he will cover on a single tack, as quickly as possible.
For this first Race for Pure Ocean on the African continent, a new reference time was set: 98.4 km in 3h30! A time to beat in the years to come!
Arthur Le Vaillant, sailor committed to protecting the oceans.
In 2019, Arthur Le Vaillant took up the challenge of the Solitaire URGO Le Figaro. This solo race between Nantes and Dieppe, divided into four legs around the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, pitted 47 skippers against each other this year. Leyton France accompanied Arthur in this challenge, through which they shared their commitment to environmental protection.
Through this race, Leyton has chosen to show its support for Pure Ocean by joining the Race for Pure Ocean initiative, hoping to raise awareness of current environmental issues.
In addition, technological innovations for environmental protection (air quality sensors, etc.) have been taken on board the boat for real-life testing.
Brice Bonneviale, a committed sportsman, is taking up a sporting challenge that is equal to today’s environmental emergency.
As part of Race For Pure Ocean, in June 2019 Brice Bonneviale completed the Arch2Arc in 75h45mn, becoming the 37th person to successfully complete this extreme triathlon. On June 22, he set off from Marble Arch, London, to plunge, after 140km and 16h55mn of running, into the waters of the English Channel. 34km of swimming later, he arrived on French soil after braving the cold and currents for 21h51mn. Then, the next day, he got on his bike and cycled 290km to Paris, where he finished his feat 14h37mn later under the Arc de Triomphe. His reason for completing this feat: his participation in the Pure Ocean project, which finances innovations dedicated to protecting the oceans and their biodiversity.
An exceptional challenge to launch the Race For Pure Ocean series. Through this sporting challenge, which demands unparalleled endurance and the ability to surpass oneself, Brice wanted to contribute to raising awareness of environmental issues, which today are a threat not only to our oceans, but to the entire ecosystem of our planet. As part of this ecological commitment, Brice’s team, following him throughout his challenge, picked up any garbage that got in their way. As a lover of the oceans, he also hoped to bring to the attention of the general public the extent of the dangers that threaten them, and to highlight the solutions that exist to protect them, and so decided to take up this challenge in aid of Pure Ocean.
Amateur swimmers commit to protecting the oceans by taking part in a night race in the Mediterranean Sea.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Monte Cristo challenge, Pure Ocean joined forces with Europe’s largest open-water swimming event. For this second episode of the Race for Pure Ocean, some 40 amateur athletes expressed their support for the environmental cause through this high-level nocturnal sporting performance.
At dusk on June 21, the swimmers set off from the Château d’If, an emblematic monument in the city of Marseille. The participants, all amateur swimmers, put in a unique sporting performance while affirming their commitment to protecting the oceans. Set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea, the maritime jewel of the South of France, this challenge was an opportunity to give visibility to the Pure Ocean project, as well as to raise public awareness of the critical situation of our oceans, and of our planet in the wider sense. The event raised €20,000 for Pure Ocean, which will be used to fund innovative projects to protect our oceans and their biodiversity.
