Our beautiful blue planet is mostly water. Oceans and seas cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface, and 97% of the planet’s water is found in them compared to just 3% on land. At the same time, the oceans are some of the least-explored and understood places on earth, more than 80% unmapped. We actually know more about the solar system than we do about the mysterious depths of our own oceans and seas.
The waters we sail on are very beautiful, and every sea or ocean has its own personality, weather, storm cycles, winds and fascinating inhabitants. They’re unbelievably precious and unique, and without them the human race would be lost. As a yacht share network we’re happy to take a slice of the responsibility for the protection and conservation of our seas and oceans, and the 230,000 or more species of fascinating creatures who depend on them.
How humanity is hard-wired to love the sea
As humans, we’re hard-wired to love the sea. It’s a strong, instinctive feeling that some scientists believe developed thanks to humanity’s incredibly tough and challenging journey out of Africa as long as 120,000 years ago, when the most reliable food sources were the seas, always rich in easy-to-catch sustenance. When you know you can always find food at the seashore, you can imagine quickly developing a powerful, gene-deep connection with it, a connection that has passed down through thousands of generations.
Our business has an equally powerful connection with the world’s waters, and we play an ongoing role in helping to ensure our seas are healthy, pollution-free and protected. It matters such a lot when our seas are under great pressure thanks to over-fishing, pollution and a lack of global vision. Like our customers, we want to see our seas full of life, places where nature is safe to flourish and people can enjoy its remarkable variety.
So how, exactly, does our yacht share network contribute to the health and welfare of these magical places?
Multiple yacht owners spread the environmental cost
Our yachts each have an average of six owners. And that’s absolutely key where the environment is concerned. It means each owner is responsible for just a sixth of the materials and energy required build a brand new yacht.
If every co-owner bought their own yacht, the picture would be very different. As it is, just a sixth of the berthing space is needed, which means less coastal marina development, which is in turn great for the oceans.
Modern yacht engines are more noise and vibration efficient than ever
Because noise and vibrations can damage the hearing of sea creatures as well as disrupt their ability to know where they are and find each other, it’s good to know that today’s marine engines are increasingly noise and vibration-free. Many of our yachts, for example, feature cutting-edge MAN engines, the brand that supplies dual fuel engines for the world’s most environmentally friendly container ships.
Championing a plastic-free future
As a business we champion the avoidance of plastics on board, vital when we all know the terrible impact that vast amounts of waste plastic is having on the oceans and seas, and the creatures that live in them. We only use environmentally friendly products throughout our fleet of yachts, which means yacht sharing with us comes with a clearer conscience than most.
Sea cleaning and rubbish gathering is part of the deal
We’re proud of our innovative sea-cleaning-rubbish-gathering requirement, which asks fractional yacht owners to fish three items of rubbish every day out of the water. This quickly adds up, and many of our co-owners do a lot more than the minimum to clear the water of rubbish.
Used and new yachts to share
We don’t always insist on brand new boats for sharing. For example the stunning Feadship De Vries 112, based in the South of France, was custom built in 1979, refitted in 2010 and again in 2014. As a result she has no ‘new build’ environmental impact at all.
Playing your part in the ocean conservation equation
The yachts we offer for fractional ownership are one thing. As a co-owner you can also take responsibility for conserving the oceans while you’re out there enjoying the wonder of it all. Our co-owners love the waters as much as we do, and they take great care to make the least possible impact on nature on every voyage.
The future of environmentally friendly yachting – Meet Black Pearl
Right now the world’s yacht manufacturers and designers are busy creating boats that have the smallest effect on nature and natural resources. Take the extraordinary Black Pearl, the world’s most advanced super yacht. She delivers 100% zero-emissions cruising thanks to controllable pitch propellers that feed power back into the ship through two shaft generators. From her HVAC system to her advanced DynaRig sails and the fact that only reusable water bottles are allowed on board, she is truly revolutionary. This is the future, and we keep our finger firmly on the pulse.
If you’d like to take the environmentally responsible route to yacht ownership, we’ll be delighted to discuss the potential with you.
