Sailors for the Sea opens Clean Regattas registration for 2014

Newport, RI (January 20, 2014) –  Sailors for the Sea, the only ocean conservation nonprofit focused on the sailing and boating community, today announced that registration for this year’s Clean Regattas program is officially open. Already 11 events, including two new participants, have pledged their commitment to the 2014 program.

Returning Clean Regatta participants

• St. Maarten Heineken Regatta (6^th year), St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, March 6- 9
• St. Thomas International Regatta (3^rd year), St. Thomas Yacht Club, March 28-30
• BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival (5^th year), Road Tortola, March 31 – April 6
• St. Thomas International Optimist Regatta (2^nd year), St. Thomas Yacht Club, June 20-22
• Sails Up 4 Cancer (3^rd year), Mystic River Yacht Club, June 21
• Vineyard Cup (5^th year), Martha’s Vineyard, July 10-13
• Central New York Sailing Association Annual Regatta (2^nd year), Sodus Bay Yacht Club, July 12-13
• Mudhead Benefit Regatta (6^th year), Mystic, CT, July 19
• Hyannis Yacht Club Regatta (5^th year), Hyannis Yacht Club, July 25-27

New participants

• Irish Sailing Association Youth National Championships, Howth Yacht Club, April 24-27
• 56 Swan Cup Challenge, Conanicut Marina Jamestown, RI, July 3-6

Found worldwide, the Clean Regattas program is a third-party certification program that helps participants – yacht clubs, sailing programs, and regatta organizers – achieve higher levels of environmental responsibility for their boating events. It also verifies they are doing their utmost to protect the waters upon which life depends. The pledge of commitment means program participants work to reduce the human impact on the ocean and coastal waters by adhering to best practices such as recycling, composting, and litter-free events. Sailors for the Sea provides support, materials, and the final certification that a club or event is a Clean Regatta.

“A Clean Regattas designation by the Sailors for the Sea organization means all competitors agree to abide by Clean Regattas Certification level requirements,” said R. Mark Davis, president, Sailors for the Sea. “The enthusiastic support and participation in our Clean Regattas program continues to grow annually and while the specific efforts of each regatta varies from one event to the next, what remains consistent is the growing concern for protecting oceans and local waters for use and enjoyment of this and future generations.”

Building on 2013 Successes – Benefits to Making the Pledge
In 2013, 163 regattas around the world took the Clean Regattas pledge, including the 34^th America’s Cup, which was one of the first Platinum level Clean Regatta and the largest sporting event in the world to eliminate single-use disposable water bottles (70,000 bottles were prevented from entering the waste stream). Of the 2013 events that pledged commitment to the Clean Regattas program, there were four platinum, 116 gold, 14 silver, and 29 bronze certifications earned. All Clean Regatta participants vowed to fulfill, and encouraged others to fulfill, the goals and requirements of the program.

With three levels of certification (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) available, participants select their level of engagement, and work to fulfill the related certification requirements by first forming a Clean Regattas committee for the event or a permanent committee for all club/organization governance and events to oversee the certification criteria.

The criteria relate to:

• trash and recycling collection and disposal
• discharge
• oil spill prevention
• green cleaning products and bottom paint usage
• bottom cleaning and boat maintenance
• global warming and carbon offsets
• biofuel conversion
• use of recycled materials in regatta awards

By participating in the program, clubs and regattas can realize a range of immediate economic benefits including:

• saving money by reducing reliance on plastic bottles, fossil fuels, and disposable products
• getting discounts on environmentally friendly products through the Clean Regattas program
• reducing excess spending by anticipating regulations and avoiding abrupt and costly changes due to new laws and related cleanup efforts
• attracting new sponsors, donors, investors, and foundations for non-profit clubs through the positive awareness of the Clean Regattas efforts

This year, Sailors for the Sea would like to help event organizers share their sustainability story by offering assistance in methods they can use to quantify their environmental impact. To pledge a club or an event to the Clean Regattas program, email the Clean Regatta’s Program Coordinator Tyson Bottenus at tyson@sailorsforthesea.org or visit http://sailorsforthesea.org/programs/clean-regattas/register-online.

About Sailors for the Sea
Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. For more information on or to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org.