Ocean Together: 7 ocean NGOs, one committed community, one race 2 messaggi
A special edition on World Oceans Day for ocean protection.
To mark World Oceans Day, Virtual Regatta launches Ocean Together on 8 June 2026: seven ocean NGOs come together around a single virtual race. Players choose their organisation and support its missions through their participation.
For the first time, Virtual Regatta gathers seven ocean-protection organisations around a single virtual race. Upon registration, between 8 and 18 June, players choose their NGO. Their boat takes on the organisation's colours. On the in-game map, geolocated points of interest highlight each organisation's missions. The race then runs from 18 to 28 June.
With a committed community of more than one million players (80% in France, 50% involved in nautical activities), Virtual Regatta puts its platform at the service of organisations working to protect the oceans. A share of the revenue generated during the event will be redistributed by Virtual Regatta to the seven partner NGOs, with each player concretely supporting the one whose colours they fly.
« We are regularly contacted by associations working to protect the oceans, each with their own projects. Ocean Together lets us bring our community around seven organisations at once, without having to choose between them. Each one is legitimate and deserves greater visibility with an audience that genuinely cares about these issues. »
Thomas Gauthier, Deputy General Manager, Virtual Regatta
Voices from the seven partner organisations
Tara Ocean Foundation funds and runs scientific expeditions at sea, and has done so for more than twenty years.
« Drawn by the meeting of the gaming, exploration and sailing communities, it was only natural for us to join the Ocean Together adventure. The funds raised will be used to put wind in the schooner's sails on its current expedition in South-East Asia, focused on the resilience of coral reefs. »
Romain Troublé, General Director, Tara Ocean Foundation
The SeaCleaners deploys field expeditions in the areas most exposed to plastic pollution to intercept waste, document its impact and support lasting local responses.
« In the face of plastic pollution, no single organisation can change things alone. It is by moving forward together, raising awareness, sharing knowledge and acting upstream that we will achieve lasting impact. »
Benoit de Torcy, General Director, The SeaCleaners
Plastic Odyssey, a French NGO whose ambassador vessel sails to the regions most affected by plastic pollution to identify, test and deploy concrete solutions to the plastic waste crisis.
« We are proud to join the Ocean Together adventure alongside the associations committed to protecting marine ecosystems. This event echoes our #SailingForOceans campaign, which brings together skipper-ambassadors to carry our message during offshore races, notably the Route du Rhum 2026 in November, and rallies all ocean lovers around a shared commitment: protecting the Ocean by acting against plastic pollution. »
Alexandre Dechelotte, General Director and Cofounder, Plastic Odyssey
Pure Ocean, a Marseille-based NGO that mobilises companies to fund innovative scientific initiatives for ocean protection worldwide.
« Sailing is part of Pure Ocean's DNA, carried by committed skippers who connect sporting performance with ocean protection. With Ocean Together, Virtual Regatta lets us reach a large community already close to these issues. Gaming thus becomes a powerful lever to raise awareness and bring everyone into action. »
David Sussmann, Founding President, Pure Ocean
Fondation de la Mer, a public-interest foundation that mobilises citizens, companies and public authorities to fund ocean-protection projects, selecting and supporting field initiatives.
« The Ocean is vital for humankind. That is why it is essential to raise the younger generation's awareness of its protection. We are happy to take part in Ocean Together, alongside other stakeholders working to protect the Ocean, convinced that gaming is a powerful driver of behavioural change for players. The virtual sporting challenge organised by Virtual Regatta can help participants move from virtual mobilisation to real-world action. »
Alexandre Iaschine, General Director, Fondation de la Mer
Surfrider Foundation Europe, an NGO committed for more than 35 years to protecting the Ocean through awareness-raising, citizen mobilisation and field action. Its Échappée Bleue programme raises awareness of ocean protection among younger generations through sailing.
« For more than 35 years, Surfrider has turned citizen engagement into concrete actions to protect the Ocean. Awareness-raising, mobilisation, scientific expertise and advocacy: we use every possible lever to pass on a preserved Ocean to future generations. »
Nathalie Van Den Broeck, President, Surfrider Foundation Europe
Hermione - La Fayette Association, owner and operator of the frigate L'Hermione, a replica of the ship that carried La Fayette to the United States in 1780.
« We will be delighted to see L'Hermione's colours take the start of Ocean Together, hoping this visibility will help us pursue our project and restore the frigate's hull. The critical situation of L'Hermione, under threat of disappearing, must be known to all so that L'Hermione keeps inspiring dreams, transforming lives, passing on craftsmanship and bringing History to life. »
Emilie Beau, General Director, Hermione - La Fayette Association
Timeline and extension
At the close of the race, the top-ranked player flying each organisation's colours becomes a certified eSkipper and represents that NGO on the virtual Route du Rhum in November 2026. This extension maintains the organisations' visibility for three additional weeks during one of the year's flagship sailing events.
