Fair Winds Collective releases newsletter

The Fair Winds Collective (FWC) is dedicated to uniting sustainable projects under sail. It does so through research & education, empowerment, and encouraging and organising sailing freight and sailing trips.

Front woman of the FWC is Peggy Engelmann. She works from ‘Kaap de Groene Hoop‘ in Amsterdam on FWC’s goals, and is contact person for the network.
This year and next, FWC is organising permanent exhibitions for all FWC partners. Those are offered visibility and support upon request. For example, FWC is now announcing a permanent exhibition showcasing sustainable sailing projects, to be launched between September 2024 and May 2025 in the bustling ports of Amsterdam and Hamburg. For potential and existing partners, this is a unique opportunity to give their project long-term visibility. Soon, Peggy will introduce the first partner in detail on the website.

Sailing

Besides sailing cargo, FWC also mediates in finding passengers, who want to sail along on the sailing cargo ships, as passengers, trainee or crew member. Peggy: ‘Sail with us, meet passionate professionals and be part of a movement committed to sustainable sailing and education,’ interested parties can contact her about this.

Team

The newsletter also introduces the team:

‘Julia Lykke Sørensen, our representative in Hamburg, is creating a furore at the Maritime Stiftung as a sailing trainer and nautical professional. After a recent podcast and discussions about future possibilities, we see our visions becoming reality. Julia and Peggy both sailed during the winter season, and we just got together at our Hub in Amsterdam, thanks to Cape Kargo’s hospitality in the ferry’s wheelhouse.
Maaike de Jong is our dynamic speaker and ambassador at various events. She writes insightful articles for Dwarstuig and nautical newsletters, conducts research for presentations at events and delves into impact and damage related to historical contexts and our natural heritage.’

Research

‘Last week, Alexander Grit presented our latest research at the ATLAS Association conference at Breda University of Applied Sciences. Our paper explores the transformative potential of combining sustainable cargo sailing, community engagement and leisure activities to address pressing environmental challenges. This is done from different perspectives:

– Leisure and activism: We found that leisure, characterised by relaxation and recreation, can also be a powerful tool for social transformation when integrated with activism. This unique synergy promotes civic engagement, challenges oppressive systems and fosters a sense of belonging and collective action.
– Community engagement: The success of sustainable freighters depends heavily on community engagement. Our research highlights the different roles within this movement, from crew members and trainees to local supporters, all of whom play an important role. Proactive communication and positive affirmation are key strategies to increase this engagement.
– Mariana Mazzucato’s vision: Our work aligns with Mariana Mazzucato’s vision of mission-driven innovation, addressing grand challenges through collaboration and systemic change. Her emphasis on rethinking value and public purpose resonates with the goals of sustainable cargo sailing.
– Leisure as movement: We are also exploring how leisure activities can lead to new forms of belonging and sustainable futures.

With Alexander presenting our research at the ATLAS conference gave us a wonderful opportunity to highlight the potential of sustainable cargo sailing as a response to the unsustainable practices of contemporary shipping. This movement (and, among others, the new more technological developments such as wind-assisted ship propulsion) offer sustainable alternatives, raise awareness for climate-friendly transport and provide unique travel and leisure experiences. By combining activism with civic engagement, significant positive change can be achieved, promoting community involvement and driving social transformation.’

More information on the FWC‘s website.
Image: FWC.

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