Coming to San Diego!

Around the Americas' Ocean Watch

Ocean Watch, a 64-foot, steel-hulled sailing vessel, is in the midst of a 25,000-nautical mile sailing expedition called Around the Americas to raise awareness of threats to our ocean.

The ship will be making a port call in San Diego May 4-12 for a visit jointly hosted by Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

On Saturday, May 8, Ocean Watch crew members and educators will stop by Birch Aquarium at Scripps for a special day dedicated to their important cruise. From 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. visitors can meet with crew members, participate in science activities and experiments, and learn what life is like aboard a 64-foot sailing vessel. Scripps Oceanography scientists will also share their own scientific discoveries from around the Americas. This special event is included with aquarium admission.

Around the Americas is a sailing circumnavigation of the American continents with the mission of inspiring, educating, and engaging the citizens of the Americas to protect our fragile oceans.

Around the Americas was launched by Sailors for the Sea, founded in 2004 by David Rockefeller, Jr., with a mission to engage the sailing and boating communities to help protect our endangered ocean. The expedition is a collaboration of Sailors for the Sea; Pacific Science Center, a Seattle-based not-for-profit science foundation; and renowned ocean sailor Mark Schrader, who has twice sailed around the world by himself.

Ocean Watch embarked on the expedition from Seattle in May 2009. Its crew has successfully sailed through the Northwest Passage, down the East Coast, around Cape Horn and is currently sailing along the West Coast - returning finally to Seattle in June 2010.

The ship will visit approximately 50 ports, including San Diego, along its journey.

Please visit the Around the Americas website for more information.