Ocean Heroes » speaker

JEANNE SOCRATES, 3X Circumnavigator

Jessica Muffett — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:08:08 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

This year Jeanne Socrates completed a singlehanded, nonstop circumnavigation at age 70. This was after another two previous circumnavigations met unfortunate ends. Her first ended in a beaching and loss of her boat and during the second she was badly knocked down off Cape Horn and encountered major problems with repairs, but managed to regroup and start again, finally circumnavigating around all Five Great Capes on her way to re-starting her nonstop attempt. Her achievement proves what most of us know, perseverance is paramount in everything. It also proved what not everyone knows, that age and gender need not get in the way of that kind of remarkable physical challenge. photo credit: YACHT/Kevin Light

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

There is nothing better for encouraging people than to give them a hero. Joshua Slocum, Sir Francis Chichester, Eric and Susan Hiscock and others have inspired countless people not just to sail, but to tackle amazing challenges. Taking up singlehanded sailing at an age when many people are looking for a retirement home sets a tremendous example for people of all ages.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

For Socrates’ amazing achievements, it’s surprising she has not gotten more recognition, especially in the U.S. She is open and eager to talk and share her story, and has a schedule of speaking engagements lined up. Many more people should hear her story and be inspired.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

http://www.svnereida.com/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362101/Jeanne-Socrates-70-oldest-woman-sail-solo-round-world-non-stop.html

P052-056_YAM_JUN13-1

Jeanne Socrates was nominated by Kurt M. Hoehne, Navigator at nwyachting.com in the category of Joy of Boating Crusader.

photo image YACHT/Kevin Light

Michael Stocker, Ocean Conservation Research

Jessica Muffett — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:50:25 +0000

Who is your hero?

Michael Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research has committed himself to ocean conservation for the past ten years traveling to Washington to lobby on behalf of marine wildlife. Additionally he has written numerous articles and presented lectures throughout America and western Europe on the topics of bioacoustics and the affect of man made noise in the marine acoustic environment.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Michael has exposed a issue not normally thought of when contemplating the marine environment, namely the affects of noise generated by drilling rigs, naval sonic emissions, large ship cavitation and the like.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

Michael devotes himself full time to marine conservation, research and education. He works with a very small budget relying on word of mouth primarily within a small intellectual community. YachtWorld’s ability to reach a large audience committed to the preservation of the world’s oceans and waterways would benefit OCr greatly.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

Please see Michael’s website at www.ocr.org and several YouTube Videos

http://youtu.be/H2PscNAK0ls

http://youtu.be/ZOvW2ALo87M

Michael Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research was nominated by James Reeve, a professional colleague of Atlantic Beach, FL, in the category Defending Our Oceans.

Jean Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society

Jessica Muffett — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:17:11 +0000

Since first being “thrown overboard” by his father at the age of seven with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back, Jean-Michel has been exploring the ocean realm. The son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel has investigated the world’s oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone for much of his life. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work. Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a “Voice for the Ocean” by communicating in all media the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy. As Ocean Future’s spokesman, Jean-Michel serves as an impassioned diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.

He has produced over 80 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the 7 d’Or, and the Cable Ace Award. In 1989, he became a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times where his articles appeared in over sixty newspapers worldwide. Reaching millions of people globally through Ocean Futures Society, Jean-Michel continues to produce environmentally oriented adventure programs and television specials, public service announcements, multi-media programs for schools, web-based marine content, books, articles for magazines, newspaper columns, and public lectures.

In 2006, Jean-Michel’s initiative to protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands took him to The White House where he screened his PBS-KQED documentary, Voyage to Kure, for President George W. Bush. The President was inspired and in June 2006, he declared the 1,200-mile chain of islands a Marine National Monument—at the time; the largest marine protected areas in the world.

As Chairman of the Board and President of Ocean Futures Society, Jean-Michel travels the world, meeting with leaders and policymakers at the grassroots level and at the highest echelons of government and business. He is dedicated to educating young people, documenting stories of change and hope, and lending his reputation and support to energize alliances for positive change.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Explorer. Environmentalist. Educator. Film Producer. For more than four decades, Jean-Michel Cousteau has dedicated himself and his vast experience to communicate to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our water planet.

How will being reognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

More exposure to Ocean Futures Society furthers their mission to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

http://www.oceanfutures.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIl7zl_9fTA
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/

Jean Michael Cousteau was nominated by Patricia Riley, Community Leader, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.