October 19, 2009 — Miami — Twenty weeks after departing Seattle, the crew of Ocean Watch, a 65-foot steel hulled sail boat, will successfully complete the second of four legs in the Around the Americas voyage, with a port visit to Miami, October 19 – 25 (schedule below).

The scientific expedition, including a challenging first leg through the icy Northwest Passage, marks the first-ever 25,000-mile circumnavigation of North and South America. The expedition will make 31 stopovers in 12 countries over a 13-month period, spreading a strong environmental message designed to draw attention to the health of the world’s oceans and the impact of global climate change on local environments and ecosystems.

“Through our participation in Around the Americas we hope to educate and encourage our community to protect and restore oceans and coastal waters, which are vital sources of food, many medicines, and which have a tremendous economic impact on our region,” said Dr. Roni Avissar, dean of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Organized by Sailors for the Sea, in partnership with Seattle’s Pacific Science Center, Around the Americas has received major funding from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Unilever. The Miami port visit will be supported by the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, and hosted by the University of Miami, in collaboration with Shake A Leg Miami, NOAA, Fifth Street Marina LLC and Miami-area yacht clubs.

David Rockefeller, Jr., co-founder of Sailors for the Sea said, "This project is definitely an expedition for our times. The health of our oceans is important to all of us, not just those who live by the sea. Around the Americas is demonstrating both the current deterioration of the ocean condition and what we as individuals can do to reverse or at least slow the negative effects."

Ocean Watch will continue to traverse the east and west coasts of North and South America over the next eight months. Daily reports of their progress are filed from the boat along with photos and video. Opportunities to meet the crew exist during the planned port visits. The daily reports, images and current port schedule are available at http://www.aroundtheamericas.org.

Watch a Video About the Stop in Miami


The University of Miami's mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. http://www.miami.edu.
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Miami Port Schedule

Monday, October 19
Ocean Watch Arrival Ceremony, Bicentennial Park, Miami, Fla.
2:00 p.m. Boat procession
2:30 p.m. Ocean Watch arrives at Bicentennial Park
3:00 p.m. Welcome Ceremony/Presentations
3:30 p.m. VIP Tours of Ocean Watch vessel

Tuesday, October 20
Student Outreach, Shake-A-Leg Miami, Coconut Grove, Fla.
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Private Lecture by David Thoreson, Lauderdale Yacht Club, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 21
High school assembly with Ocean Watch crew, MAST Academy, Virginia Key, Fla.
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Friday, October 23
Public lecture with Captain Mark Schrader and Ocean Watch crew, UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Virgin Key, Fla.
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 24
Public Ocean Watch Community Day, Bicentennial Park, Miami, Fla.
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 25
Ocean Watch departure, Bicentennial Park and Government Cut, Miami, Fla.
Time: TBA

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For more information regarding the crew schedule, please call 305-421-4612 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To sign your organization up for the Community Day on October 24, call 305-421-4207 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

About Around the Americas
Around the Americas is an historic 25,000-mile clockwise-circumnavigation of the North and South American continents, never before undertaken in continuous fashion. The sailboat, equipped with some of the latest technology, along with scientists and educators who join during various legs of the voyage, is making 31 stopovers in 13 months to draw attention to the changing condition of the oceans. With major funding support from Tiffany & Co. Foundation, a non-profit consortium has been formed to make the public more aware of the plight of our oceans. Around the Americas was developed by Sailors for the Sea, a non-profit organization that educates and empowers the boating community to protect and restore our oceans and coastal waters, in partnership with Pacific Science Center. The crew includes Captain Mark Schrader, a world-record-holding, solo circumnavigator and ocean race director, and three talented, experienced, professional sailors, who all care about ocean conservation.


About the Funding Organizations
Established in 2000, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations working in two main program areas: the environment and the arts. The Foundation’s environmental conservation program promotes responsible mining, healthy marine ecosystems, the enhancement of urban environments and the preservation of culturally significant landmarks. In addition, the Foundation fosters design excellence by supporting organizations dedicated to the decorative arts. For more information on The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, please visit http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org.

Unilever’s mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Each day, around the world, consumers make 160 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. In the United States, the portfolio includes major brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs nearly 12,000 people in both the United States and Puerto Rico – generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2008. For more information, visit http://www.unileverusa.com.

The Rockefeller Family advocates for environmental protection. For almost 40 years, the Rockefeller Family has worked at the cutting edge of advocacy in such areas as environmental protection, advancing the economic rights of women, and helping citizens hold public and private institutions accountable for their action. The family is best known for its creative and leveraged grantmaking, its role as a catalyst in the nonprofit as well as the funding communities, and its record of public policy innovation.

The Osberg Family Trust is a Pacific Northwest family foundation.

The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, established in 1990, takes a leadership role in funding unique opportunities that provide solutions to issues related to the community, education, and the environment.

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