With the ever intensifying crisis of ocean plastic pollution, now more than ever the yachting community is coming together to raise awareness and funds for a myriad of worthy causes. From the London to Monaco bike ride to the Riviera Water Bike Challenge, here’s how you can support some of the yachting charity events taking place this season.
Paris-Modena bike ride
While not officially affiliated with the yachting industry, Maserati's Paris-Modena charity bike ride does offer participants the chance to visit some of Europe's yachting hubs, such as Versilia, while raising money for children's charity Reves. Taking place from June 1-7 2019, the invitation-only event is now in its sixth year and will see 30 cyclists cover 600 kilometres with €1 for every kilometre covered donated to the charity. As well as Versilia, participants will stop in Lyon, Alpe d'Huez, Turin, Alba and Montecatini Terme. Previous editions have included international sportspeople such as cycling world champion Alessandro Ballan, alpine skier Manuela Moelgg and form F1 driver Paul Belmondo.
Visit paris-modena.com
London to Monaco bike ride
Now in its third year, the London to Monaco bike ride will kick off on September 17, 2019 with dozens of amateur cyclists testing themselves on a 921 km long route ending in Monaco on September 24 to coincide with the Monaco Yacht Show. Organised by the Blue Marine Foundation to raise awareness and financial support for projects including marine reserves in the Ascension Islands and the South Atlantic island of St Helena and introducing sustainable fishing in the Aeolian Islands, cyclists opt to either take part in one of four stages or complete the whole gruelling route. which has raised £1,000,000 since its inauguration in 2016.
Visit london-monaco.cc
The Ocean Talks
Organised by Boat International Media in partnership with the Ocean Family Foundation (OFF), Ocean Talks will return to London on June 12, 2019. Speakers from across the worlds of yachting and ocean conservation will share their insights and experiences to help encourage wider conversation on how to best tackle the crisis in our oceans. Confirmed speakers include Nekton founder Oliver Steeds, Frederikke Magnussen, OFF co-founder, EYOS expedition leader and co-founder Rob McCallum, yacht designer Steve Gresham, and Dee Caffari MBA, who has completed more non stop circumnavigations of the globe than any other woman. To register your interest in attending click here.
Riviera Water Bike Challenge
Last year, the Riviera Water Bike Challenge saw 15 teams race 20km from Pointe Ciappara to the Yacht Club de Monaco on Schiller S1-C water bikes. Organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, all funds raised by the sporting event and subsequent gala dinner will be used to support the foundation’s work encouraging children's passion for sport, teaching them to swim and educating young people about water safety. Each team will feature one celebrity rider, with previous stars including Paula Radcliffe, Valterri Botas, Felipe Massa, David Coulthard and Princess Charlene herself. Dates and for the 2019 edition are yet to be announced so stay tuned for more.
Visit fondationprincessecharlene.mc
Switzerland for the Oceans Cycling Challenge
Taking place on September 8, 2019, the cycle challenge will cover a distance of approximately 100 kilometres, and over 1000 metres in elevation. It will be hosted by ocean conservation body Switzerland for the Oceans, which was founded at the Gstaad Yacht Club in August 2017. The foundation aids monk seal conservation in the Augean region, collaborates with Blue Marine Foundation on their work in the Aeolian Islands and assists OceanCare's efforts to reduce ocean plastic pollution. This event follows the success of the foundation's inaugural Zurich to Monaco bike ride in 2017, which aimed to raise CHF100,000. Taking place over ten stages, the amateur cyclists were joined by 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and all money raised was donated to support.