A LIFE AT SEA: 50 YEARS SAILING THE SOUTH PACIFIC FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION

RICHARD&FREDERIQUECHESHER

I first set sail on my own boat in 1958, and I never looked back. The ocean became my home, my classroom, and my life's passion With a PhD in marine science and a diver’s heart, I spent years exploring the oceans of the world, studying reefs, sailing from island to island, and championing marine conservation long before it was trendy.

In 1968, I made a chilling discovery off Guam a plague of crown-of-thorns starfish devouring coral reefs at an alarming pace That wake-up call launched a lifelong mission: to sound the alarm for our oceans

My work took me from National Geographic expeditions in the Florida Keys to deep into the heart of the South Pacific, diving into the mysteries of coral reefs and witnessing first-hand the growing damage from human activity

In 1975, I sold my 60-foot catamaran research vessel and bought a leaner, nimbler Peterson 44 cutter Freddy and I had her built in Taiwan, named her Moira, and sailed off into the blue with a dream to merge science and sailing, and to make a difference along the way.

One highlight? Helping shut down a dolphin circus in New South Wales, backed by over 250,000 passionate signatures and getting the governments of South and Western Australia to ban capturing dolphins for circus performances.

We cruised Asia, the Philipinnes, Solomon Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa, studying reefs, rescuing dolphins, and working with local communities Follow our adventures in the expedition reports

In American Samoa, we launched a community cleanup with the government that turned a litter-strewn Pango Pango into a source of pride That success led to years of work with SPREP in Noumea, helping island nations launch environmental programs that actually worked because they were rooted in local culture and ownership, not foreign aid dependency.

In Tonga, we helped create community run giant clam sanctuaries One species of giant clam had already become extinct in Tonga, and Tridacna derasa wasn’t far behind So, we worked with Earthwatch volunteers and the villagers of Vava’u to show them what would be lost forever without community action

We sparked a friendly competition with a prize for the best giant clam catches (for a community sanctuary, not soup pots!) and a 1000 paanga prize for anyone who could bring in a live Hippopus hippopus When no one could find a single live Hippopus hippopus, the message hit home: extinction means gone Forever

Against all odds and the skepticism of local officials the villagers made it work. The community sanctuary flourished Baby clams appeared And best of all? The success spread like a warm trade wind, inspiring other communities in Tonga, then Fiji and Vanuatu, to protect their reefs and marine life by starting community clam sanctuaries.

Our time aboard Moira wasn’t just about clams and coral. I also created a reef-friendly Code of Anchoring in Reef Environments, CARE, to spread wareness among cruising sailors of how to anchor without damaging the beautiful coral gardens they sailed all that way to see.

We later launched Sea Keepers in New Zealand an environmental education program sponsored by Telecom NZ that connected lifelong marine wildlife protectors with over 200 elementary schools through teleconferences, and supported teachers in organizing field projects so kids could enjoy collecting scientific data on New Zealand's marine life

Along the way, I was tapped by the United Nations to write major State of the Environment reports for the Pacific Ocean

The news was grim ocean health was tanking fast. Still, we didn’t give up. In Vanuatu, I worked on a visionary plan to make the country 100% powered by renewable energy. Sadly, global politics and powerful energy interests blew that dream off course

Every bay and lagoon was charted the hard way: with our dinghy, our depth sounder, our cameras, and a serious dose of salty curiosity.

So Freddy and I tacked to a new heading using our photography, diving, and sailing experience to create the most detailed, visually immersive cruising guides ever made for New Caledonia and Vanuatu We called them the Rocket Cruising Guides.

Think of it like navigating from the bridge of a spaceship with the most advanced, magical sensors and displays to instantly see GPS depth surveys, clickable anchorages, underwater photos, festival scenes, volcano hikes you name it

We didn’t outsource a thing We did the mapping, the programming, the photography everything but launch the satellites Over time, we kept refining and upgrading Today, seasoned skippers say the Rocket Guides are the most detailed, visually immersive cruising Guides they’ve ever seen. And that makes our hearts soar.

We hope you’ll find these guides not just useful, but delightful your own magical portal into the islands we’ve come to love May your voyages in Vanuatu and New Caledonia be safe, inspiring, and full of wonder. And may you always sail with purpose and joy

Aboard the Research Vessel Moira Rocketcruisingguides.com