Sailing for a Cause: Fundraising for Migrant Lives at the America’s Cup
-
by
oauyorg
During the final week of the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Open Arms United with Yachting hosted an entirely unique fundraising event. Barcelona hosted the world’s most prestigious sailing competition, and friends and supporters of OAUY joined us to watch the high-speed action up close.
We collaborated with Zephyr Yachting for the spectating packages and we had main donations from companies such as Howden Insurance and Compass Tenders. They brought guests from other marine companies including Burgess, Marine Guard, Feadship. After a light breakfast at Waterproof and Zephyr headquarters in Marina Port Vell guests watched the competition boats get lifted onto the water and ready to race. The atmosphere was electric as rapturous support from all the boats in the marina was demonstrated by a cacophony of honking horns. Shortly afterwards we took to the water to watch the action.
Our first spectator experience took place on Race day 4 with challenger team INEOS Britannia hoping to gain their first points in the final competition against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The day was marked by complex weather conditions and a challenging swell of almost a meter, adding an extra level of difficulty to both races. Ultimately the large swell and choppy waters favoured the British boat, skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie, with team INEOS coming from behind to win both races of the day against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The second spectator event was on Race day 6 which ended up being the final race of the competition. After a delayed start due to low winds Team New Zealand sailed to victory in a commanding performance to win the first race becoming the first team to seven points and winning the competition. The win secures Emirates Team New Zealand a spot in the record books as the first continuous team to win the America’s Cup three times in a row.
Sailing for a Cause
OAUY aimed to leverage Barcelona’s hosting of one of the most thrilling sports finals in recent history to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis and the alarming number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean.
Against the backdrop of this historic and remarkable event we want to highlight that in the same Mediterranean waters people are risking their lives on a daily basis fleeing war, poverty and persecution to reach Europe in hope of a better life.
The International Organization for Migration reports that 2,483 migrants have died or gone missing while trying to reach Europe this year. Events such as our spectating experiences help continue to raise vital funds for Open Arms and their live saving missions in the Mediterranean.
To find out more and support the cause you can donate to Open Arms through their website or please don’t hesitate get in touch with us if you would like to collaborate.
