Beneath the Waves

http://beneaththewaves.oRG

Beneath the Waves is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is working to conserve, protect, and restore the health of our oceans through research and education. Founded in 2009, they conduct cutting-edge scientific research on threatened marine species that has already resulted in real-world conservation victories. In addition, they produce immersive and engaging media pieces that connect the public to the ocean.

Vandal has supported their hammerhead conservation and research missions in Japan to get the first satellite tags on a population of hammerhead sharks.  The research was featured as the February 2016 cover story in Outside Magazine, and the first hammerhead shark tagged was named Zelda, after our daughter.  Vandal has also supported their local South Florida Initiative here in Biscayne Bay. Support these valuable efforts to save our sharks and our oceans: http://beneaththewaves.org/donate/ 

Hōkūleʻa

http://www.hokulea.com

History is being made as the guiding value of the Worldwide Voyage, mālama honua, to care for island Earth, propels Hōkūleʻa to the forefront of global action to save our ocean and planet.  Founded on a legacy of Pacific Ocean exploration, the Polynesian Voyaging Society seeks to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, each other, and their natural and cultural environments.

In 2016, Vandal was blessed with the opportunity for its crew to sail the Hokulea in the North Sound, and to moor Vandal alongside the Hokulea upon its arrival on Mosquito Island, British Virgin Islands after a long journey from Brazil.  The Hokulea represents the traditional heritage of Polynesian voyaging, and was the first of its kind in "catamaran" sailing; meanwhile Vandal represent that most technologically advanced modern catamaran and the future of ocean voyaging.  During their mission, we and the leaders of Hokulea's mission felt it appropriate to "twin" the sister-ships as the bridge between old and new.  Vandal is a proud member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and encourages everyone to support their mission here: http://www.hokulea.com/support/donate/

Macario Advantage

http://macarioadvantage.org

Like so many places in the world, the island nations in the eastern Caribbean have a wide disparity between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’  While the ‘haves’ have built luxury homes or enjoy the fancy resorts that tend to dominate the best beaches, these ‘have nots’ have been born into poverty, live in substandard conditions, and are seriously impacted by hurricanes, flooding, volcanoes and earthquakes that are endemic to the region. These people tend to suffer from a strong sense of powerlessness to do anything about the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face in life, which include lack of education, jobs, food, money, clean water, sewage management, medicine and proper housing.  Macario Advantage makes a positive difference in the Eastern Caribbean by enhancing the effectiveness of local organizations that service youth and elderly. 

Vandal had the joy of meeting the founders, Clair and Magoe, during a month long sojourn in Dominica in 2016.  Their organization (run from their sailboat!) was at that time, actively helping build a canteen (cafeteria) for the local elementary school students, among many other efforts underway.  We supported that mission and were proud to have Zelda's first act of charity at the tender age of 9 months old be to help other children.  The school children wrote her a thank you card that still holds a place of honor on our mantle.  Dominica touched our family in ways we can not express and now more than ever after the onslaught of hurricanes in 2017, Dominica and its beautiful and generous people need our aid.  Support local Dominica relief efforts here through Marcorio: http://macarioadvantage.org/donate/