M/Y Talitha is atit again. They’ve rowed across the Atlantic to raise money for UNICEF,completed as many press-ups as there were crossing miles, and performed morethan 1,000,000 burpees with other yachts to help reduce waste on board.
This time, the physically fit crew is taking on a newchallenge: “Lift Your Ship,” in which they aim to lift the weight of Talitha in one month — 1,450 tonnes, approximately.And as always, this challenge is not without a charitable cause: funding hurricanerelief to an area devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The crew will raisemoney equal to the weight lifted, and equivalently, the tonnage of the yacht, makinga €1,450 donation toward rebuilding efforts — which friends, family, and theowner can add to, of course.
While they began the challenge before they knew of theimpending storms, there was no question that they could transform it into agood cause once disaster struck. “There’s a connection in the effort neededfrom all crew to lift your ship as there is to pulling your weight (virtually)in a combined effort to rebuilding an area, island, or country we’ve allenjoyed and hope to keep enjoying for many years,” says Capt. Guy Morrall.
The crew will largely donate the funds to Antigua andBarbuda, two islands they closely associate with. “Our first thought was tocontact ABSAR to find out how they’ve been involved and how we could helpthem,” says Morrall. “They’re the people on the ground, waiting to help in anyemergency, and I have no doubt they’ve dropped everything to be there for all[who] need them.”
Instead of just sending a check, the crew plans to find outwhat is needed, such as building materials, paint, or pumps, and take itacross, or fund the donation if not crossing. Morrall adds he’d also like tohelp BWA and MB92, who are putting together a fund and collection point foranyone to donate useful materials, which yachts leaving Barcelona and bound forthe Caribbean will then take across.
“Having something like this to focus the crew is alwayspositive in the end, but it’s hard work getting there,” says Morrall.
But hard work is always more endurable when others areinvolved. If successful, Talitha willchallenge a few of the yachts that participated in their WhatNot2Wastechallenge to do the same. The rules are simple — crew must shoulder or benchpress something above their head and collectively match the net, gross, ordisplacement tonnage of the yacht in 30 days or as quickly as they can. Crewcan lift any weight above their head.
“Although we’re lifting ‘weights,’ we’re also trying to becreative with what we lift,” says Morrall, whose crew has been liftingeverything from water toys to fellow crewmembers (see below). “It would be niceto see other boats doing the same.”
Yachts, the challenge is on — how much will you be lifting,and ultimately, donating toward hurricane relief?