SYDNEY (AP) — Ian Kiernan, an environmental campaigner and accomplished round-the-world sailor who raced for more than 40 years, died Wednesday after a short battle with cancer, his family said. He was 78.
Kiernan competed for Australia at the Admiral's, Southern Cross, Clipper, Kenwood and Trans Pacific Cup competitions. In 1986-87, Kiernan represented Australia in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race, placing sixth out of a fleet of 25 yachts from 11 countries.
During the BOC Challenge, Kiernan became dismayed by the amount of pollution in the world's oceans, including plastic containers and garbage bags. He organized a community event — Clean Up Sydney Harbour — in 1989 in which 40,000 volunteers turned out to help clean up the waterway.
Officials for Clean-up Australia say the day has since spread to about 120 countries. Kiernan was named Australian of the Year in 1994 and in 1998 received a United Nations Environment Program award for "mobilizing tens of millions of people around the globe."
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