Alex Sails the Atlantic - team UNICEF

In 2017 Alex Hare embarked on the challenge of a lifetime, with the support of New Zealanders and her business Opus International Consultants. Alex raced the Atlantic twice with Team UNICEF as part of the Clipper Round the World Race, raising awareness for at-risk children in New Zealand, the Pacific, and around the world. Alex had only been sailing for 18 months prior to the race.

20 strangers, 51 days at sea, racing across the Atlantic and South Atlantic Oceans.

The Clipper Round the World Race involves 12 Clipper yachts. Each 70-foot yacht has 17-21 crew, who continuously alternate between spending four hours awake and four hours asleep while racing. Over 11 months, they will race eight legs in total.

Alex undertook two legs, sailing over 20,000 kilometres from Liverpool to Punta Del Este in Uruguay to Cape Town - a total of 51 days at sea in gruelling conditions.

Alex partnered with UNICEF New Zealand during the year preparation for the race and during the months at sea and is now embarking on a speaking tour around New Zealand to talk about this incredible adventure and how it contributed to UNICEF- highlighting the needs of the most vulnerable children in our south pacific region.

Every child has rights, and deserves the opportunity to reach their potential. Since emerging as a response to the urgent needs of children affected by WW2, UNICEF has worked to change and improve the lives of children affected by violence, poverty, conflict, displacement, climate change, and exploitation. UNICEF is dedicated to providing children everywhere with education, clean water, protection, medical attention, and the ability to play and grow.

Recently, UNICEF has drawn attention to the increasing child poverty and inequality for children in New Zealand - a dark mark that affects all of us. New Zealand is ranked 38th out of 41 EU/OECD countries for child well-being. One in five kiwi children are living in relative income poverty. New Zealand has above-average child homicide rate and an adolescent suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 - the worst of all countries measured.

UNICEF is working to change this story and improve the wellbeing of kiwi kids.

And in the Pacific, UNICEF has a massive presence. UNICEF NZ helped almost half a million children throughout Fiji after Cyclone Winston damaged or destroyed health clinics, houses and schools. UNICEF provided assistance to children in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam devastated their homes, crops, and villages. UNICEF is also providing water and sanitation in Kiribati - where only 3% of schools currently have clean water. UNICEF’s education projects throughout the Pacific ensure kids also get the best start in life. And in the Solomon Islands UNICEF is providing safe water and sanitation in schools to help enable safe education.

Why did Alex complete one of the toughest endurance races in the world?

I took on this challenge because of the people around me today who have inspired me with their courage, those people I have lost who lived life well, and for everyone I may meet in the future.

It’s because I believe in the principals of UNICEF, and helping children reach their full potential. I want to add my voice to theirs.

Racing and living on the Atlantic Ocean is simplified, water is precious and each meal is appreciated.

A group of strangers, diverse in ages, gender and culture focused on a goal to race across the Atlantic Ocean for our future (our children), and achieved it together.

Our living conditions gave us more human perspective.

The experience levelling.

Endurance is a daily perspective for some of the most vulnerable children of our world. Imagine if we all worked together for a little more shift in our human perspective. An impossible dream that is not unachievable.

Your contribution?

I have an ambitious target of $25,000, but I know through sharing this story and New Zealanders’ passion for our country’s children, their future, and the great kiwi spirit of adventure, this target can be a reality.

During 2018 I will embark on a speaking tour in New Zealand sharing the stories of the race and highlighting how this endurance challenge contributes at a grass roots level to UNICEF projects.

My target of $25,000 will contribute to the overall race target for UNICEF of $725,000

To put the overall race target into context this will provide

Enough midwifery kits to help deliver 100 babies

28,000 mosquito nets to help protect families from malaria

200,000 Polio vaccines

50,000 Measles vaccines

5,000 blankets to keep babies warm in hospitals and refugee camps

890 emergency water kits

100 schools in a box to provide emergency schooling for 40 children in disasters

64 water pumps to provide clean safe water

20 temporary schools and health centres for survivors of natural disasters

1,000 emergency nutrition packs

You can follow the full story of how Alex learnt to sail and race the Atlantic on Instagram @alexsailstheatlantic