Antigua is the next stop for eXXpedition Round the World all-female crew on board sailing vessel S.V. TravelEdge.
On November 17th 2019 the Leg 2: North Atlantic Gyre from Azores to Antigua with Copernicus Marine Services crew is planning to arrive into Antigua.
Antigua, a low-lying nation with an interesting geology that is surrounded by beaches and fringed with coral reefs, is an important part of the research journey of 38,000 nautical miles with three missions ending, starting or exploring the Caribbean island and its waters.
The journey from the Azores to Antigua has taken the Leg 2 crew through the densest accumulation zone for plastic pollution in the North Atlantic where they’ve conducted important research for acclaimed scientific institutions led by Mission Leader and Science Lead Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones.
The crew will take part in a series of land-based research and community outreach activities in Antigua before a new crew will depart on Leg 3: Exploring Antigua via Green Island 23rd November – 26th November 2019 led by Mission Leader Sally Earthrowl. Later in the month the Leg 4 crew will set sail from Antigua to Aruba with the Red Ensign Group.
Public events in Antigua include an evening talk at The Clubhouse, Falmouth Harbour on 17th November 2019 where eXXpedition Science Lead, Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones and the crew of multidisciplinary women will share their stories of science at sea, sailing and solutions to the plastic issue. The event is open to the public and will start with welcome drinks at 18:00 followed by a presentation at 19:00. There will be a Q and A session after the presentation. A free event but RSVP needed via Eventbrite.
eXXpedition Round the World
Under the directorship of award winning ocean advocate Emily Penn, eXXpedition Round the World is a two-year scientific research mission to study microplastics in our ocean with a focus on pinpointing solutions to ocean plastic pollution back on dry land.
eXXpedition Round the World crews on board S.V. TravelEdge will sail through some of the most important and diverse marine environments on the planet. This includes crossing four of the five oceanic gyres, where ocean plastic is known to accumulate, and the Arctic.
The mission wants to celebrate women in STEM, exploration and sailing. It is being crewed by 300 international multidisciplinary women in teams of ten and aims to create a powerful global network of ambassadors who can use their first-hand experience at-sea to implement solutions back on dry land.
Mission Director Emily Penn said: “We’re excited to be exploring Antigua and the Caribbean Sea during eXXpedition Round the World. Antigua provides the perfect base for us to consider the issues of plastic pollution at an island scale, which is reflective of the issues at a larger, global scale. Antigua has made great progress in its banning of single-use plastic items since January 2016 when it first banned single-use plastic bags and it will be very interesting to learn about the impact of this legislation. Antigua as a destination crosses over three of our voyage legs and we thank all our supporters in particular our Antigua voyage leg sponsors Copernicus Marine Services and the Red Ensign Group and all our local partners.”
Antigua Voyage Legs – links to see more about each mission
Leg 2 Azores to Antigua with Copernicus Marine Services 28th October – 18th November 2019
Leg 3 Antigua to Antigua via Green Island 23rd November – 26th November 2019
Leg 4 Antigua to Aruba with the Red Ensign Group 29th November – 8th December 2019
Meet the Crew – See the eXXpedition Round the World Crew Directory
Leg 2 Azores to Antigua with Copernicus Marine Services
Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones UK Science Lead / Mission Leader
Anna Strang UK Skipper
Maggie Kerr Australia First Mate
Sophie Dingwall UK Deck Hand
Emily Butler UK Environmental Science Graduate
Yanika Borg Malta Data Analyst & Scientist
Natascha Glanzer-Fuerst Austria Sustainability Entrepreneur
Erica Cirino USA Writer, artist, wildlife rehabilitator
Louise Tremewan UK Teacher
Marita Schmidt Austria Business Unit Coordinator
Rikki Eriksen USA/Danish Marine Biologist
Barbara Roy USA Insurance Broker
Emilie Boge-Dresler Denmark Costumer Designer
Nita Jirgensone Latvia Sociologist
Leg 3 Antigua to Antigua via Green Island
Sally Earthrowl UK Mission Leader
Anna Strang UK Skipper
Maggie Kerr Australia First Mate
Sophie Dingwall UK Deck Hand
Lara Hoad UK Architect and Educator
Kristen Weiss USA Science Communicator
Kirsten Antoncich UK Clinical Psychotherapist
Leah Fouchong Trinidad & Tobago Geography Teacher
Lindsey Turnball USA Entrepreneur
Jeanine Behr-Getz USA Writer & Consultant
Chantal Nativel South Africa Event Producer
Lisa Sahney USA Luxury Travel Advisor Travel Edge
Stephanie Wheeler
Jeannine Goussev USA Managing Director
Leg 4 Antigua to Aruba with the Red Ensign Group
Sally Earthrowl UK Mission Leader
Anna Strang UK Skipper
Maggie Kerr Australia First Mate
Sophie Dingwall UK Deck Hand
Julie Andersen USA Executive Director Plastic Oceans Intl
Rachel O’Callaghan UK Designer
Juliet Carvalhal Netherlands Entrepreneur & Environmental Activist
Marena Brinkhurts Canada Map Maker
Liv Backhaus Denmark Marine Biologist
Sam Peltz USA Film Producer
La Daana Kanha Trinidad & Tobago Marine Scientist
Emma Feggetter UK Transformation Programme Manager
Nathalie Moreau French Corporate Account Manager
All costs of the not-for-profit expedition are covered by crew contributions, sponsorships and partnerships.
Gold Sponsors are: Travel Edge, TOMRA, Red Ensign Group
Silver Sponsors are: 11th Hour Racing, Slaughter and May
Voyage Leg Sponsors: Copernicus Marine Services & the Red Ensign Group
Local Antigua Partners: The Clubhouse, Antigua Yacht Club
Find out more about our sponsors and supporters here
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CONTACT:
Media contact Larissa Clark: E: media@exxpedition.com
In Antigua (from 14th Nov 2019) Sally Earthrowl +447973187298
Social media eXXpedition
@exxpedition on Twitter / @exxpedition_ on Instagram /eXXpedition on Facebook
Follow news and updates via #eXXpedition
- Press Releases are available here
- Press Images & Footage available for media here
- Scientific plan for the mission is available here
- Dispatches from each voyage leg will be sent to media on request and will include film, photos and narrative (email media@exxpedition.com to be added to receive these updates)
Event & Media Schedule Antigua
- 17th November 2019 18:00 Public Evening Talk at The Clubhouse, Antigua Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour. eXXpedition Science Lead, Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones and the crew of multidisciplinary women share stories of science at sea, sailing and solutions to the plastic issue. The event is open to the public and will start with welcome drinks followed by a presentation at 19:00. There will be a Q and A session after the presentation. A free event but RSVP needed – details via Eventbrite.
- 18th November Time TBC Media Call to Boat Leg 2 – Meet the Leg 2 Azores to Antigua with Copernicus Marine Services Crew for photos, film and interview opportunities to visit boat and meet the crew. Antigua Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour contact media@exxpedition.com
- 23rd November 2019 Time TBC Departure Leg 3 Exploring Antigua a four day mission to explore the impact of microplastics on land and at sea in the Caribbean Sea.
- 26th November 2019 Time TBC Media Call to Boat Leg 3 – Meet the Leg 3 Exploring Antigua crew for photos, film and interview opportunities please contact media@exxpedition.com to visit boat and meet the crew. Antigua Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour.
- 30th November 2019 08:00 – 09:00 – Media Call to Boat Leg 4 – Meet the Leg 4 Antigua to Aruba with The Red Ensign Group crew for photos, film and interview opportunities please contact media@exxpedition.com to visit boat and meet the crew. Antigua Yacht Club, Falmouth Harbour.
- 30th November 2019 est 12:00 Departure for Leg 4 Antigua to Aruba with The Red Ensign Group
About eXXpedition
eXXpedition is a Community Interest Company and not-for-profit organisation that specialises in all-women sailing trips with a focus on highlighting the devastating impact single-use plastic is having on our planet’s oceans, ecosystems and on human health. It has run expeditions all over the world, and previous research has highlighted the endemic nature of microplastics within our ocean environments globally and the increasing potential impact they have on human health. Our focus now is to advance a better understanding of the plastics issue as a whole and to work with industry to pinpoint solutions and policy at a global level by addressing knowledge-gaps and delivering evidence to inform effective solutions.
About Copernicus Marine Services – sponsors of Leg 2 Azores to Antigua
Component of the European Union Copernicus program, The Copernicus Marine Service (also referred to as CMEMS) is dedicated to ocean monitoring and forecasting for the global ocean and the European regional seas. Implemented by Mercator Ocean International, a centre for global ocean analysis and forecasting, the Copernicus Marine Service provides a reliable and a sustainable response to user needs in application areas such as maritime safety, marine resources, the marine and coastal environment and climate and seasonal forecasting.
About the Red Ensign Group – sponsors of Leg 4 Antigua to Aruba
The Red Ensign Group (REG) is a group of British Shipping Registers. It is made up from the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) and the UK Overseas Territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and the Turks & Caicos Islands) which operate shipping registers from their jurisdiction.