Capt. Liz Clark Takes on 11th Hour Racing Ambassador Role

11th Hour Racing has announced Captain Liz Clark as its new ambassador. Liz is a sailor and ocean advocate based in Tahiti, French Polynesia. She joins a 13-strong community of athletes and creators who act as changemakers and use their influence to rally fans and peers to act for the ocean.

Liz learned to sail at age 7 aboard a “little red sailing dinghy” in San Diego, CA, and by the age of 10 had completed a 5,000-mile, six-month Mexico cruise with her family. By the end of the voyage her future was set — “I wanted to protect the natural world from human destruction and, one day, I wanted to be the captain of my own sailboat.” In 2006, armed with a BA in environmental studies, Liz made the 1966 Cal 40 Swell her home, and headed to sea. She then spent the next decade, and more, sailing over 20,000 nautical miles exploring remote surf locations, learning from different cultures, living sustainably, and raising awareness about environmental issues.

“Welcoming Liz as an ambassador is a natural fit for our organization, as her work exemplifies our philosophy of creating local solutions to global problems. Her unique influence reaches sports fans at the cross section of surfing and sailing and inspires them to rethink their actions in connection with the ocean,” explains Michelle Carnevale, vice president of programming at 11th Hour Racing. “We are proud to support Tamarii no Te Natura [“Children of Nature”] and a generation of environmental stewards.”

With 11th Hour Racing’s support, each ambassador can work on an ocean conservation project with a nonprofit organization of their choice. Liz has chosen A Ti’a Matairea (a nonprofit in French Polynesia for the environment, animal welfare, and youth causes) that she co-founded in 2019, to support classroom marine conservation lessons and after-school experiential education programs.

While expanding her activism work, Liz continues to write (having already published her book Swell about her ocean adventures), blog, engage in photography, and partner with conscious brands. Her actions have built her reputation as a surf adventurer, activist, speaker and captain.

“Working for the planet is an endless job, and collaboration with inspired, like-minded people and organizations is super-important to stay motivated and connected to the greater goals,” Liz explains. “I’m grateful to 11th Hour Racing for supporting our ocean conservation projects and excited to work with other sailors passionate about saving our oceans.”

By adopting sustainable practices in their work, daily lives, and sporting events, 11th Hour Racing’s ambassadors inspire people to act #fortheocean.

Liz was a guest of our sailing podcast Good Jibes in May 2022. You can listen to some of her stories here.