Around the Americas
2025-2026
A sailing and science expedition circumnavigating
North & South America.
Embark on our sailing journey
May 1, 2025 in
Our Mission
To spread the vision of North and South America as ONE ISLAND and the oceans surrounding it as ONE OCEAN through the collaboration and sharing of crucial scientific research, stories, and education outreach.
Circumnavigating the Americas on One Ocean
Sailing around North and South America to connect with schools, educators, and scientists around North and South America to share research and stories with a new generation of ocean stewards.
The Around the Americas (ATA) is a 14-month expedition to circumnavigate North and South America on a 48-foot sailing vessel named ONE OCEAN.
In 2009-2010, Captain Mark Schrader completed the route this expedition will follow and will do it again. The mission is to spread the vision of North and South America as ONE ISLAND and the oceans surrounding it as ONE OCEAN through collaboration and the sharing of crucial scientific research.
Transformative Science
ONE ISLAND will be an ocean-based sailing laboratory for scientists and ocean technology to collect valuable scientific data, conduct research protocols, and share data from pole to pole.
The expedition's scientists, educators, and storytellers will continuously collect and share data on ocean biodiversity and the state of our ONE OCEAN. They will conduct a pole-to-pole kelp study with the University of Victoria, the University of California, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory will manage a meteorological station for weather and heat flux calculations, deploy buoys for wave and ocean/atmosphere data, and use a high-resolution satellite camera. All data will be open-sourced for broad access.
Education and Outreach
Students from kindergarten through college can connect and engage with the expedition on all levels.
Students will engage in various aspects of the project, from boat refits to education outreach and scientific data collection. Partnering with Skagit Valley College’s Marine Technology Center, students will help refit the 48-foot Ketch, ONE OCEAN. They’ll learn about rigging, engine replacement, and electronics while fostering community and teamwork. Additionally, a STEM curriculum will be shared with schools across Skagit Valley, enabling students from kindergarten through college to connect with the Around the Americas Project. This educational outreach will be reproduced in over 50+ ports around North and South America and offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Two full-time onboard college interns will collect scientific data and participate in the education outreach.
Get to know the crew
Discover the magic of sailing and connect with ocean lovers and global communities. Engage in inspiring conversations, dive deep into marine life, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Support our mission!
Donate!
The Skagit Valley College Foundation (SVC) is the fiduciary IRS 501 (c)3 nonprofit partner for Around the Americas. Contributions to the SCV Foundation noted for ATA are tax deductible.
Tax Identification Number:
91-1012915
To donate directly to the project, please connect through Venmo. Note that this donation is not tax-deductible.
Thank you
for your support!
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