The OCC awards Challenge Grant to Novara One Planet
by Ocean Cruising Club 19 Dec 2022 17:25 UTC
Novara under sail © Novara One Planet Project
The Ocean Cruising Club is pleased to support the Novara One Planet project and has awarded a Challenge Grant towards the costs of purchase of a solar array. This grant is the ninth to be made since 2019.
A variety of challenging projects have been supported in that time, including unsupported, non-stop, singlehanded circumnavigations and several environmental maritime research projects.
The Novara One Planet project aims to connect people to the impacts of climate change through science, education, art and adventure. It will do this through listening to the stories of people in coastal communities, how they are affected by, and adapting to, climate change and how communities can reduce their climate impact.
The sailing vessel Novara is a platform for climate/environmental science, in particular research in coastal communities in the Artic, Caribbean and Pacific. There will also be opportunities for sailors and researchers to join climate-change-focused sailing expeditions.
The Novara One Planet project will be led by Dr Nigel Jollands and Veronica Lysaght. Nigel has worked on climate change research, action, policy and finance for 30 years. He's provided advice to the highest levels of government and managed billions of euros in climate finance funds. And somehow that's not enough. The Novara project gives him an opportunity to combine two of his passions - sailing and the environment.
Veronica Lysaght will contribute to research, provide leadership development and facilitation skills in communities where these skills are wanted. She has worked in journalism, management, coaching, research and facilitation for more than 30 years.
Novara is a specialised high-latitude expedition yacht custom built to be independent for several months at a time. She is an aluminium hulled Bestevaer 60c, designed by the famed Dykstra naval architects and built by the world-leading KM yacht builders in 1997. She's designed as a high-latitude ice breaker research vessel with a unique aero rig constructed by Damon Roberts of Magma. With Steve Brown as skipper, she has already circumnavigated the Americas. She has recently had a major overhaul of equipment, including rebuilding of her masts and yards in Southampton, and is now ready for another decade of research and adventure anywhere in the world.
The OCC Challenge Grant scheme has two categories; the Adventure Challenge Grant and the Conservation Challenge Grant. Prior membership of the OCC is not required in order to apply. If you, or someone known to you is planning a particularly ambitious sail-exploration or is planning a similarly ambitious maritime conservation or environmental project, consider applying for an OCC Challenge Grant. Further details including eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on the OCC website.