Canada Ocean Racing today unveils its new team name Be Water Positive. With their mission still to be the first Canadian team to complete the Vendée Globe, they will also be raising awareness and promoting what it is to Be Water Positive.

The team’s performance goals remain the same; aiming to be the first Canadian to complete the Vendée Globe, however, they will be sailing under a new purpose, committed to building awareness of what water positivity truly means through key partnerships.  By forging alliances with key organizations in the water reuse and desalination industries, and supporting the UN Water Action Decade, the team aims to educate and engage the public on the importance of responsible water usage. 

Skipper, Scott Shawyer had the following to say on the team’s new name and purpose. “Through my experiences on the oceans, I have come to think a great deal about water. Despite its apparent abundance, clean freshwater is a scarce and invaluable resource needed to sustain human life. As Canadians, we are privileged to have vast freshwater resources that we sometimes take for granted. As Be Water Positive we recognize the urgent need for responsible water management. Embracing this new purpose allows us to shed light on the global water scarcity and inspire positive change. Together with our key partners we can make a significant impact by promoting a message of water positivity“. 

Water positivity refers to the practice of contributing more to freshwater resources than is consumed. It encompasses various approaches, including reducing water consumption, reusing water resources, and producing more freshwater through sustainable desalination. By working closely with prominent organizations in the water industry, the team aims to promote their work, innovations and messages. 

Be Water Positive is thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Desalination Association (IDA), a global organization dedicated to promoting desalination, water reuse, and water technology solutions. The agreement between Be Water Positive and IDA solidifies their shared commitment to promoting sustainable water practices. Through this collaboration, the team will leverage the expertise and resources of the IDA to further their mission of promoting water positivity. 

Shannon McCarthy, Secretary General IDA, commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Be Water Positive IMOCA team. The team will cross the oceans with a profound purpose, spotlighting and educating people on the need for water sustainability solutions and protecting our oceans, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation for All, and Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action. With over 2 billion people lacking access to clean drinking water today and an expected increase in water demand of more than 50% by 2050, coupled with the need to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on freshwater resources. The IDA will support the team in their Sustainability Education Program about desalination and water reuse systems to create a water positive world.” 

Today the team are also announcing the first partnership with an industry leader H2O Innovation. Be Water Positive will work closely with H2O Innovation to promote how they are moving towards being more water positive.

President and CEO, Frédéric Dugré commented, “In October 2022, we were invited to meet the Canada Ocean Racing team and to tour their boat in Quebec City, the home of H2O Innovation. Experiencing the exciting and challenging nature of sailing on an IMOCA boat alongside the Team in Halifax (Canada) and Brest (France), I developed a deep appreciation for the parallels between sailing and business, as both require discipline and precise execution. Our association with the Be Water Positive sailboat aligns with our mission to promote water reuse, desalination, and ocean protection. With the IDA’s endorsement, our leadership within the water industry, and the support of other partners, the Be Water Positive IMOCA will serve as a unique marketing vehicle as it races across the ocean and shares live experiences. This new platform will allow us to interact with people outside our industry and thus reach a greater audience. The Be Water Positive Team will act as a vehicle for change through which we aspire to shift the population’s mentality with regards to the protection, consumption, and recycling of water.” 

The team will continue to focus on building a world class North American offshore sailing team. While promoting what water positivity means through key partnerships. The Be Water Positive team are currently making their final preparations for their first race ,the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race that starts on 22 July 2022.