A charity bike ride from London to Monaco that will coincide with the upcoming Monaco Boat Show aims to raise close to a quarter of a million dollars in support of conserving the world’s oceans.

The London to Monaco Bike Ride is being organised by the UK ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation (Blue) and renowned yachting and aviation design specialist Winch Design.

The UK-based Winch Design is supporting the ride as part of its 30^th anniversary celebrations this year.

Starting from Central London on Sunday, September 18, more than 40 people will join the 1,500-km cycle ride, arriving in Monaco ten days later on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show, where they will be greeted by HSH Prince Albert of Monaco II.

HSH Prince Albert II, commented: “Oceans are more than ever at the heart of our common future. Although they are subjected to sustained pressures, they also offer infinite solutions and unparalleled opportunities, whether of an ecological or economic nature, energy or food related.

Since 2012, my Foundation and the Blue Marine Foundation have made an important unified commitment to help protect the world’s oceans, with a number of joint initiatives focused on the protection and management of the marine environment. The first London to Monaco Cycle Ride is therefore a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness on the necessity to protect our fragile oceans.

I look forward to welcoming you in Monaco on September 27, 2016.”

The aim is to raise £500,000 ($725,500) for Blue and their quest to save the oceans by creating marine reserves, raising awareness of the issues around conservation and developing models of sustainable fishing. Monies will be raised through commercial and individual sponsorship, donations and partnerships.

Participants, including members of the Winch Design team, will be able to join one of the three stages or tackle the whole distance. Their route will take them down through France in a high-profile spectacle, which will raise awareness as well as funds for Blue. The cyclists will be escorted by a large support team, managed by La Fuga, specialists in delivering this type of event.

Winch Design has a longstanding relationship with Blue, and has supported the charity through smaller initiatives in the past, including the design of the “Whale Room” at The Ice Hotel in 2012. William Blomstrand from Winch designed a room which replicated the ribcage of a whale and a team went over to Sweden to carve the space to William’s winning design.

Andrew Winch commented; “I’m passionate about the oceans and know that we must ensure the future of our seas. As a great supporter of Blue Marine, I want to make a real contribution to their wonderful work in celebration of our thirtieth year in business. The entire team at Winch Design is inspired to do their bit to help and I hope people within our industry will get behind this event to show their support for Blue and do their bit for the environment.”

Blue Marine Foundation (Blue) was founded in 2010 by the team behind the award-winning documentary film The End of the Line. Blue exists to fix the largest solvable problem on the planet – the crisis in our oceans by increasing the amount of ocean under active and effective protection from 2.4 per cent to 10 per cent by 2020. 

Winch Design was founded in 1986 by Andrew and Jane Winch as a specialist exterior and interior Yacht Design Company. Over time, the company has added aviation, architecture and interiors teams to its core yacht portfolio and now employs over sixty five people, working on a number of international design projects on land, in the air and at sea. Based in an old fire station on the banks of the River Thames, Winch Design unveiled a new branding and website in December to celebrate 30 years in business this year.