We Sail for the Whale

WDCS has partnered with Team Russia in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 to raise awareness of the need for protected places in the sea for whales and dolphins. Together we are competing under the banner of 'We Sail for the Whale'.

Covering over 37,000 miles, lasting 9 months and competing in some of the most challenging environments on Earth, the Volvo Ocean Race is the premiere event in the sailing calendar and one of the most extreme endurance challenges.

Team Russia is the only privately-funded yacht in this Volvo Ocean Race. Funded entirely by St. Petersberg businessman Oleg Zherebtsov and skippered by long-time WDCS supporter and Olympic athlete Andreas Hanakamp, Team Russia have named their yacht 'Kosatka' (Russian for orca) in honour of the speed, agility and exemplary teamwork displayed by these animals. The name also honours the orcas of Kamchatka in Far East Russia and WDCS's long-term commitment to the study and conservation of this population.

Southern right whale footage courtesy of El Dorado Contenidos (www.eldoradocontenidos.com)

www.whales.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• whales
• volvo
• ocean
• race
• team
• russia
• WDCS
• conservation
• sailing
• extreme
• nonprofit
• grassroots
• outreach

[JustinL42]

I fully support your cause, however there is a real danger at the speeds these boats sail, of them actually hitting and killing/injuring the very whales they seek to protect. In fact it has already happened. There is video of fellow VOR entry Green Dragon hitting a whale on youtube. I am an avid sailor and an animal lover but it is problem when travelling at up to 35 knots of speed. The whales don't have time to react to get out of the way.

[WDCSUK]

We completely agree, which is we we have embraced the partnership with Team Russia as it gives us an opportunity to reach out to the sailing community and influence the race in a positive way. We've been working with the VOR to provide the sailors information packs on what species they are going to encounter and how to best avoid hitting them. Unfortunately there is a real risk that we can't fully remove, but we hope to reduce the chances or both human and whale mortalities in this race.

[WDCSUK]

To the childish person who came along and marked all the comments on this video as Spam and gave them a -10 rating: Get a life.

If you disagree with our position on whaling or conservation, post a comment and let's talk about it. Don't be sneaking in here and devaluing what other people have to say just because you disagree and maybe have a political axe to grind. Grow up, join the community and let's talk about issues.

[400sean]

@marvellegendstoybiz, that's absolute bullshit. whales are endangered because they reproduce slower than cows. people who kill whales should get a life and do something real for the planet not against it.

[marvellegendstoybiz]

Nonsense. There is nothing wrong with eating whale meat.

There is no sense in one culture telling another culture what they can and cannot eat.

How about telling the USA to stop eating cows because they are so cuddly?

Get real people.

[huldumenn]

You are talking about fish! What is wrong with people? Leave Iceland alone. We need to hunt 75000 whale to make cod and other fish normal. And it has already startet...so patetic this whalelovers...

[bigguy4570]

Worshiping the creation more then the creator how stupid is that.

[patchyone123]

Great video & campaign, it's a pitty some people have to resort to underhand tactics to try to blank out people's voices.

On a lighter note at the time of writing this this video is #36 - Most Viewed (This Month) - Non-profits & Activism.

Good stuff!

[JustinL42]

Correction to my previous comment. I got the name of the boat wrong, it was Delta Lloyd that hit the whale not Green Dragon.

[Polarbearzombie]

Good for you WDCS, and whoever was the coward who simply voted these comments down rather than debating the issues it raises its obvious that you believe that your opinion is so weak you cannot convince anyone with your arguments so you resort to cowardly attacks.