A very moving and heartfelt speech from the British Sailor Dee Caffari MBE, at the Solent Freeport Launch on World Ocean Day 2022, about oceans, sailing, and inclusivity. Below are a few extracts
'The sea does unite us all no matter where we are, and even if it means something different to all of us. Around the world, the ocean is relied upon for health, for our climates, trade, transport, and food. And that is no different to being right here in the Solent.
I've been fortunate enough to sail around the world now six times: solo, as part of a team, leading a team the right way, and what's regarded as the wrong way. [...] Having spent a large portion of my life at sea, I've been privileged to look at sights and sounds that most people never experience; endless horizons, beautiful sunrises, glorious sunsets, and wildlife in its natural habitat. It's a joy to see the natural environment and see the power of mother nature in all her glory, testing us to our limits. The ocean acts as a barometer of our planet's health, and we need to look after it. It's our responsibility. I'm very lucky to call the ocean my playground, my office and have it as my race track.
The home waters of the Solent is where it all began. A career change from teaching led me to the Isle of Wight where I retrained to start my sailing career 22 years ago [...} all the stars of my big projects have happened here, in the Solent.
It's a technical place to sail, it's tough. In fact, if you can negotiate the waters of the Solent, you can handle sailing anywhere on the planet. [...]
We have a wide tidal range testing any planning skills. We have a wonderful natural geography that gives us this unique area that allows for industries, science, sports and leisure to all come together. Given all the benefits to this wonderful area, is it really accessible to all?
We're going to hear a great deal about being inclusive, levelling up. It here I urge caution. I'm talking to you from a sporting perspective, in the area where we've launched around-the-world campaigns. [...] But maybe it's a result of all this success that we've had, that the sport of sailing or access to the water is still seen as exclusive, inaccessible and elitist... or even I'll go as far to say that despite the local population, being in a region of 1.3 million people, that the majority of the children have never been in on the water in this region. They probably have never even taken a ferry to the South Island. There's nothing inclusive about that.
We can do more and we must do more. And I believe the initiatives such as the Solent LEP, bringing together this report on the strategy for Solent 2050 can help address these issues and really deliver a difference for the young people thinking what's next in their future? Am I stuck here? Or am I excited to be here? If they can see it, they can be it'
A very moving and heartfelt speech from the British Sailor Dee Caffari MBE, at the Solent Freeport Launch on World Ocean Day 2022, about oceans, sailing, and inclusivity. Below are a few extracts
'The sea does unite us all no matter where we are, and even if it means something different to all of us. Around the world, the ocean is relied upon for health, for our climates, trade, transport, and food. And that is no different to being right here in the Solent.
I've been fortunate enough to sail around the world now six times: solo, as part of a team, leading a team the right way, and what's regarded as the wrong way. [...] Having spent a large portion of my life at sea, I've been privileged to look at sights and sounds that most people never experience; endless horizons, beautiful sunrises, glorious sunsets, and wildlife in its natural habitat. It's a joy to see the natural environment and see the power of mother nature in all her glory, testing us to our limits. The ocean acts as a barometer of our planet's health, and we need to look after it. It's our responsibility. I'm very lucky to call the ocean my playground, my office and have it as my race track.
The home waters of the Solent is where it all began. A career change from teaching led me to the Isle of Wight where I retrained to start my sailing career 22 years ago [...} all the stars of my big projects have happened here, in the Solent.
It's a technical place to sail, it's tough. In fact, if you can negotiate the waters of the Solent, you can handle sailing anywhere on the planet. [...]
We have a wide tidal range testing any planning skills. We have a wonderful natural geography that gives us this unique area that allows for industries, science, sports and leisure to all come together. Given all the benefits to this wonderful area, is it really accessible to all?
We're going to hear a great deal about being inclusive, levelling up. It here I urge caution. I'm talking to you from a sporting perspective, in the area where we've launched around-the-world campaigns. [...] But maybe it's a result of all this success that we've had, that the sport of sailing or access to the water is still seen as exclusive, inaccessible and elitist... or even I'll go as far to say that despite the local population, being in a region of 1.3 million people, that the majority of the children have never been in on the water in this region. They probably have never even taken a ferry to the South Island. There's nothing inclusive about that.
We can do more and we must do more. And I believe the initiatives such as the Solent LEP, bringing together this report on the strategy for Solent 2050 can help address these issues and really deliver a difference for the young people thinking what's next in their future? Am I stuck here? Or am I excited to be here? If they can see it, they can be it'