The 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race is under way with a united push for increased global sustainability and an improvement in ocean health.
The 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race is under way with a united push for increased global sustainability and an improvement in ocean health.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
Briton Dee Caffari skippers the Turn the Tide on Plastic team, which aims to campaign for a reduction in the amount of plastic dumped in our oceans.
Briton Dee Caffari skippers the Turn the Tide on Plastic team, which aims to campaign for a reduction in the amount of plastic dumped in our oceans.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, eight million tonnes of plastic waste reaches our seas each year.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, eight million tonnes of plastic waste reaches our seas each year.
James Blake/Volvo Ocean Race
Caffari's team will monitor daily water quality and micro-plastic levels on their 45,000-nautical-mile trip around the world.
Caffari's team will monitor daily water quality and micro-plastic levels on their 45,000-nautical-mile trip around the world.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
The crew on Team AkzoNobel are also collecting water samples and passing the micro-filters to shore-based scientists to analyze.
The crew on Team AkzoNobel are also collecting water samples and passing the micro-filters to shore-based scientists to analyze.
Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race
Micro-plastics are small (less than five millimeters in diameter) pieces of plastic which are eaten by fish and other sea life and birds in mistake for food. It eventually ends up in the human food chain.
Micro-plastics are small (less than five millimeters in diameter) pieces of plastic which are eaten by fish and other sea life and birds in mistake for food. It eventually ends up in the human food chain.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
By 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight), according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
By 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight), according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
plastic oceans
Caffari is the first woman to have sailed single-handed around the world non stop and in both directions.
Caffari is the first woman to have sailed single-handed around the world non stop and in both directions.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
"I feel very privileged to have the ocean as a playground and a work office, and yet I can see first-hand some of the damage we're doing," Caffari told CNN.
"I feel very privileged to have the ocean as a playground and a work office, and yet I can see first-hand some of the damage we're doing," Caffari told CNN.
Sam Greenfield/Volvo Ocean Race
Dane Nicolai Sehested is foregoing sleep for science to save the planet. ""If I can sacrifice a bit of sleep and people can stop using single-use plastic and dumping it in the ocean, I think it's all worth it," he told CNN.
Dane Nicolai Sehested is foregoing sleep for science to save the planet. ""If I can sacrifice a bit of sleep and people can stop using single-use plastic and dumping it in the ocean, I think it's all worth it," he told CNN.
Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race
This year's edition of the Volvo Ocean Race began in Alicante, Spain and will take in 11 legs around the world, ending in The Hague in June.
This year's edition of the Volvo Ocean Race began in Alicante, Spain and will take in 11 legs around the world, ending in The Hague in June.
Jesus Renedo/Volvo Ocean Race
Race organizers are keen to promote the environmental message with all seven teams and their sailors pledging to do their bit to help the planet.
Race organizers are keen to promote the environmental message with all seven teams and their sailors pledging to do their bit to help the planet.
Jen Edney/Volvo Ocean Race
Sailors will see some spectacular sights during their ocean passages.
Sailors will see some spectacular sights during their ocean passages.
Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race
"If we actually don't do anything about it our planet is doomed," said Caffari, talking about the impact of plastic pollution and global warming.
"If we actually don't do anything about it our planet is doomed," said Caffari, talking about the impact of plastic pollution and global warming.
James Blake/Volvo Ocean Race