Environment Week 2024: How we can do our bit

How sailors in Northern Ireland can make a difference to the environment and protect the areas we use for sailing
25 Oct 24
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23-26 October 2024 marks the ‘London School of Economics Environment Week’ - a time when people around the world are encouraged to spread awareness about the need to protect the environment.

For the sailing community, this is an especially important time, because as an outdoor sport it draws attention to the need to protect our oceans.

Environmental protection is something which the RYA are driven towards and initiatives such as The Green Blue include helpful resources and information about how sailors can limit their environmental impact and reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean. 

Making sailing competitions ‘green’

The environmental impact of large-scale sailing competitions can be difficult to manage, but in July, Ballyholme Yacht Club demonstrated that it can be done when they hosted the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans.

Over 360 competitors took part in the competition, meaning that over 500 people from around the world had travelled to the Bangor area.

Ballyholme Yacht Club ensured that the competition was plastic free and other environmental issues were minimised with the following steps. 

  1. Eliminate single-use water bottles and provide water refill stations
  2. Eliminate plastic straws
  3. Serve food with plastic-free dinnerware
  4. Use or provide reusable food bags
  5. Award practical items or use a perpetual or upcycled trophy
  6. Publicize sustainable efforts
  7. Involve local organisations
  8. Post educational and reusable signage
  9. Serve local food or source seafood sustainably
  10. Organize a ‘Green Team’
  11. Ensure Proper waste bin placement and signage
  12. Use digital/paperless event management
  13. Host a beach or marina cleanup
  14. Promote Alternative transportation such as bikes or public transport
  15. Increase awareness of wildlife and habitat protection through educational talks
  16. Offer vegetarian or vegan food alternatives
  17. Prevent toxins from entering the water by providing spill kits
  18. Implement a no towing rule in most circumstances and ‘zone’ ribs to sections of the course to minimise fuel usage

Their efforts have been recognised as they recently won a ‘Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas, Platinum Award.’

Future environmental protection from the Northern Irish sailing community

The world faces a huge challenge when it comes to protecting our environment, so it is important that clubs across the country are united in taking positive steps in this direction.

Like Ballyholme Yacht Club, other clubs have also established ‘Green Teams’ which is a fantastic way to implement an environmental plan.

Resources can also be found by visiting The Green Blue.