Canadian Vendée hopeful changes name

Canada Ocean Racing has announced a new team name: Be Water Positive. The team says its performance goals remain the same – to be the first Canadian team to complete the Vendée Globe – but it will be sailing under a new purpose and is committed to building awareness of what water positivity means through key partnerships.

Water positivity refers to the practice of contributing more to freshwater resources than is consumed. It encompasses various approaches, including reducing water consumption, reusing water resources, and producing more freshwater through sustainable desalination.

“Through my experiences on the oceans, I’ve come to think a great deal about water, despite its abundance, it is a scarce and invaluable resource for sustaining all life,” says skipper, Canadian businessman Scott Shawyer.

“As Canadians, we are privileged to take freshwater for granted, but now, as Be Water Positive, we recognise the urgent need for responsible water management. Embracing this new purpose allows us to shed light on global water scarcity and inspire positive change. Together with our key partners we can make a significant impact by promoting water positivity.”

To achieve its aim of educating and engaging the public on the importance of responsible water usage, Be Water Positive has signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Desalination Association (IDA) and announced a partnership with H2O Innovation.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Be Water Positive IMOCA team,” says Shannon McCarthy, secretary general at the IDA. “The team will cross the oceans with a profound purpose, spotlighting and educating people on the need for water sustainability solutions and protecting our oceans, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation for All, and Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action.

“The IDA will support the team in their Sustainability Education Program about desalination and water reuse systems to create a water positive world.” 

President and CEO of H2O Innovation, Frédéric Dugré, comments: “Our association with the Be Water Positive sailboat aligns with our mission to promote water reuse, desalination, and ocean protection. With the IDA’s endorsement, our leadership within the water industry, and the support of other partners, the Be Water Positive IMOCA will serve as a unique marketing vehicle as it races across the ocean and shares live experiences.

“This new platform will allow us to interact with people outside our industry and thus reach a greater audience. The Be Water Positive Team will act as a vehicle for change through which we aspire to shift the population’s mentality with regards to the protection, consumption, and recycling of water.” 

With backing from veteran Vendée sailor Alex Thomson, Shawyer announced the launch of Canada Ocean Racing in August last year (2022). The Be Water Positive team is currently making final preparations for its first race, the Rolex Fastnet Race which starts this weekend, 22 July 2023.

All images courtesy of Team Be Water Positive.