Free time is a luxury, so why not spend it doing something you enjoy? Here we showcase two events in the US promoting yachting, ocean conservation, or the luxury lifestyle.

Volvo Ocean Race Miami Stopover and SeaKeepers

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet will make its only North American stop in Miami May 6-20. Surrounding the stopover will be events catering to boating enthusiasts of all ages and stripes and will center on the Downtown Miami Race Village at the city’s Bicentennial Park.

The Race Village will feature dynamic entertainment, interactive pavilions and wraparound events for the entire two-week stretch. Included in the lineup is an in-port race, with points counting toward the leader board. The event will provide race fans, boat aficionados and the general public an opportunity to view the power of the Volvo Open 70s, the yachts participating in the race.

Additional activities will include the Volvo Ocean Race Academy Program, a series of youth sailing regattas; the Opti Nationals; a pro-am race featuring VIP guests; educational programming tied to aquatic activities; watersports exhibitions; music stages featuring locally recognized talent; paddle board competitions; classic steamboat races; food and drinks; and a ceremonial gala.

The International SeaKeepers Society is working closely with the organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race to promote its Vessels of Opportunity scientific research program in the Volvo Race Village. The society will have a yacht there from May 7-20 to welcome students and provide scientists with opportunities to showcase their research and explain how the Vessels of Opportunity program can help them accomplish their goals.

Richard Snow, the society’s director of development and member services, summarizes the goals of this interesting initiative. “The program seeks to provide scientists with platforms upon which to conduct cutting-edge research by placing them on member vessels. Members have the opportunity to meet with scientists and involve themselves directly in ocean preservation and conservation. Each research mission selected for the Vessels of Opportunity program is unique and varies in terms of location, duration and complexity. All types of projects, from deep-sea exploration to water quality monitoring to coral reef protection and preservation and beyond are considered.

“Yachts that express a willingness to participate in the Vessels of Opportunity Program must be logged, their capacities and limitations noted and updated, and cruising schedules recorded and maintained on a weekly/monthly basis. The point of contact with each member yacht is the captain or other facilitating crewmember. The point of contact must understand and agree to provide SeaKeepers with periodic updates regarding cruising schedule and onboard scientific capabilities.”

The anticipated media coverage of the Miami Volvo Race stopover will help provide the program wide-reaching exposure. “For the yacht owners, this will be an ideal way to showcase vessels with millions of global viewers,” Snow says.

If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity or making your yacht available as a spectator yacht for the race May 19-20 for this program, please email Richard Snow, [email protected], or visit seakeepers.org, volvooceanracemiami.org or volvooceanrace.org

Curator San Diego

The invitation-only Curator San Diego event will be held in San Diego April 20-21. The event, launched last year as DeLuxe San Diego, features intimate exposure to a variety of luxury goods including yachts, aircraft and automobiles. The venue is the city’s Fifth Avenue Landing, which offers superyacht dockage and transient berthing.

For more information, visit thecurator.com