The Ocean Race, the world’s toughest test of a team in sport, and the global media brand TIME, are launching a new partnership to help inspire change for the ocean. Combining The Ocean Race’s unrivalled experience of the seas and award-winning sustainability programme, with TIME’s mission to lead conversations that change the world, the collaboration will raise awareness of the threats to the ocean, champion the critical role it plays in climate change and help to drive the action needed to protect it.

As an Official Impact Partner of The Ocean Race, TIME will play a key role in The Ocean Race Summits, which bring together global decision-makers to help to drive new and improved policies to protect and govern the ocean and support healthy seas. The Ocean Race’s Learning programme, which teaches children aged 6-12 about what makes our seas incredible and the threats they face, and the Science programme, which gathers vital data to increase understanding about the state of our marine world, are other key elements of the ‘Racing with Purpose’ sustainability programme, developed with founding partner 11th Hour Racing, that will be highlighted through the collaboration.

The Ocean Race and TIME will also amplify the key messages of this purpose-led partnership within forthcoming global issues of TIME and on Time.com, and through collaborations at major events, such as the World Economic Forum and COP26. Additionally, The Ocean Race and TIME will work together to engage audiences around The Ocean Race Europe.

Anne-Cécile Turner, Sustainability Director at The Ocean Race said: “At The Ocean Race we have a purpose far greater than sport: sustainability is at our heart. We’re delighted to join forces with TIME in our shared mission to give the ocean a stronger voice.

“Without healthy seas we simply cannot have a healthy planet. The ocean plays a vital role in reducing the impact of climate change, by absorbing carbon emissions and capturing the vast majority of human-made excess heat. It needs to have a central role on the global stage this year, particularly in major climate discussions, such as COP26. TIME’s influence, audience and networks provides an incredible opportunity to reach those in the public and private sectors that can create the change we desperately need for the ocean.”

The partnership builds on TIME’s commitment to, and legacy of, covering sustainability and climate change throughout history, from the 1989 Endangered Planet of the Year cover package to TIME 2030, the decade-long global editorial initiative that focuses on the ongoing exploration of solutions to the challenges of the post-COVID world and the leaders and innovators driving them.

Agatha DeMaio, VP of International Partnerships at TIME said: “We are thrilled to join with The Ocean Race for this purpose-driven partnership. Through our shared commitment to championing sustainability, our goals are to serve as a catalyst for positive change, accelerate the application of innovative solutions to help restore ocean health and help build a better future for all.”

The Ocean Race’s multi-award winning ‘Racing with Purpose’ sustainability programme brings together a range of tangible ways that the world’s leading sailing race can have a positive impact on the marine environment. Working with 11th Hour Racing – the Founding Partner of the Racing with Purpose programme and Premier Partner of The Ocean Race – and Volvo Cars, we are engaging and inspiring millions of people around the planet with our messages.
Find out more here.