Breguet
Breguet and Race for Water
It was Marco Simeoni, the founder and president of Race for Water, and now that his foundation is working with Breguet, he is on the way to making his dream come true.
I went up to him and asked him why he wasn’t on his state-of-the-art boat, the only vessel in the world that is powered by wind, sun and seawater.
He smiled ruefully and replied, “I wish I was, but someone has to spread the word, and being the president of Race for Water, I am the best person to do it.”
The Race for Water boat, an impressive vessel loaded with cutting-edge technologies, is traveling the world demonstrating clean energy and educating people about the plight of the world’s oceans.
Race for Water has come up with a technology capable of transforming end-of-life plastics into energy, either gas or electricity, according to Simeoni. The idea is that the production and sale of this energy will allow the community to pay street collectors and encourage them to pick up the plastics.
Already, Race for Water has signed draft agreements with the local authorities on Rapa Nui (formerly known as Easter Island), where today’s daily plastic pollution has a very serious impact, as well as the operator managing the electricity production and distribution. These key agreements mean that a process has been set in motion to implement the high-temperature pyrolysis technology, called “Biogreen 300,” thus enabling the island’s plastics and household waste to be converted into energy with the ultimate aim of providing a sustainable and effective solution by 2020.
Why Breguet?
Abraham-Louis Breguet was given the title of chronometer maker to the French Royal Navy, and the brand has had a connection to the sea ever since. Marc A. Hayek, president of Breguet, is an avid diver and his concern for the world’s oceans is well known.
So, partnering with Race for Water makes perfect sense. The brand has a complete Marine Collection, of which one watch is dedicated to Race for Water, worn by the crew members of the Odyssey. Speculation is that this model, the Breguet 5517 “Race for Water” Special Edition, might one day be sold to the public in order to raise money and awareness for Race for Water.
“I am very proud to have such a great brand as Breguet as the Race for Water title sponsor,” Simeoni says.
Keep watching this space for updates as Race Odyssey 2017 – 2021 continues around the world.