There are a number of reasons for this, but it’s largely down to two factors: space and shared interest. There isn’t much room on your typical sailboat, so people are compelled to talk and connect with one another. When the boat’s on the move, the crew has to work together, building team spirit. And, in the absence of common ground, there is always the ocean to tie us together.

Sail Britain was founded in 2015 to encourage the sharing of interdisciplinary expertise regarding the ocean, to connect people from various ocean fields who would not ordinarily interact or share knowledge with one another. In light of the threats our ocean is currently facing, it is more important than ever to adopt innovative approaches to marine conservation – and I hoped Sail Britain could be one.

The ocean is not our natural habitat. While scientific theory suggests we were once an aquatic animal, the ocean is certainly not our natural habitat anymore. And yet, the ocean remains crucial to all life on Earth – including us. It supplies 50% of the atmosphere’s oxygen and helps regulate the climate. Moreover, the ocean supplies millions of people with a primary source of protein and sustains the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The problem is, from a conservation standpoint, it has been a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. According to the UN, almost a third of fisheries have been fished beyond sustainable limits, and the WWF estimates that marine life populations have declined by almost 50% since 1970. With climate change adding ocean acidification and coastal erosion, and coastlines and the open ocean choking with plastic waste, it is clear we can’t ignore it anymore. There are challenges that have to be overcome. Changes that must be made.

It was this growing realisation, and my own experience of what a wonderful collaborative social space a sailing boat can be, which led me to found Sail Britain. We need to rekindle our connection with the ocean and understand its importance for our own lives. It’s vital we achieve that if we are to be able to conserve it for future generations.

Sailing brings people together in a challenging environment that can aid personal development as well as build relationships. It also allows time to observe, listen and contemplate, and for people to develop and exchange ideas. Through traveling slowly, undertaking research and completing citizen science projects, being at sea offers something that travelling by road, rail or air cannot. This personal connection with the ocean is a key step in raising awareness of the importance of the marine environment.