Ronald Menzel interviewed by Sophie Iselin

The history of Antinea, a little drop of water that grew into an ocean.

It is on the lakeside in Geneva that Ronald, the founder of Antinea tells us the story of a real life adventure that started as a dream.

This is the story of a man whose wild ideas and tenacity have led to the creation of the Antinea foundation, with its flagship, the sailing boat Antinea, set to start out on a long journey.

To join you in your universe, tell us about your love of the oceans...

I like the fact that the oceans are one of the last wild places on our planet... The oceans are a vast expanse where a great deal is yet to be discovered. A journey on the seas is by definition a trip off the beaten tracks, as you travel at human speed. On top of this, I like adventure, water and nature...

How did your love of the oceans develop into today’s project to explore and protect this huge ecosystem?

The story started roughly 10 years ago, somewhere in the middle of Alaska. I had finished my studies in Business Policy and had been travelling around the world for almost 2 years. I’d spent the night in a small hut lost between 2 glaciers and met a couple of Australian Biologists. They where working for the protection and management of the great Barrier reef back in there country. We talked all night long about our common passion of the sea. A promise was made: One day we would rent a sailing boat to explore the Australian coast and dive some amazing spots in the northern part of the GBR. Starting from this encounter the small sailing and diving trip transformed into a major endeavour. Being lucky enough to be able to realise such a dream, I wanted it to be useful at the same time for the protection of the seas. Communicating the importance and fragility of the marine environment to a maximum of people is a must! But things grew out of proportion, and it seems now that I will spend most of my time in an office, running the Foundation and that other people will enjoy the boat part... (laugh)

When you came back from your trip around the world, how did you start your project?

 I worked for the Deutsche Bank for many years, even if I made the promise during my studies never to work for a bank or for a multinational company! (laugh). But this allowed me to save some money. I left the bank 2 years ago and now I work fulltime for Antinea.

When you announced that you were quitting a promising career to start the project Antinea, what where the reactions? People must have thought that you were crazy...

Nobody told me directly that I was mad, but most of the people thought that this would only stay a nice project... People did not believe in Antinea until the launch gala, where they realised the size it had suddenly taken. However, one person had never doubted that I would succeed : Arnaud, one of my old colleagues (I guess because he is as crazy as I am and believes that nothing is impossible). People thought I was dreaming, they could not understand. But later, during a difficult period, these are the people who supported me the most and helped me to continue!

How did you succeed in bringing together the individuals, N.G.Os and companies that now form the Antinea Network?

As I have a business strategy background, I set-up Antinea in the same way I would have created a company. And since I have no scientific background, I set-up Antinea with ideas that were a little naïve. I did not foresee the size all this would take. It was only later on, when I noticed a lack of interaction and information sharing, that I developed the idea of federating organisations, scientists and private companies around a concept to protect the oceans. I should also say that the success of this initiative has had the benefit of coming at right time. The notion of social responsibility and protection of the environment were suddenly trendy! It was the right moment to set up such a project. And finally a lot of work and a little luck...

The expedition starts next year and the project has grown beyond what you first had hoped for. Would you say that you have realised your dream?

It is only a start for me. A step has been reached, but the objectives are constantly growing. In fact the dream is evolving all the time with new opportunities to grasp. I have not realised my dream... I’m living it. Or maybe I’m living in a dream... I don’t know? Anyway, I’m pleased with the way things are coming together. A lot of people are starting to believe in this adventure and are getting involved. It is a great feeling to see the project take on a life of its own. The more people pull on the same rope...