Club resources to support sustainability

World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, has launched an online self-assessment tool supported by a suite of resources aimed at sailing and yacht clubs to help them become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact. The resources have been produced with the support of 11th Hour Racing and the World Sailing Trust.

The project aim is to encourage sailing and yacht clubs to embrace environmental sustainability and to act as a catalyst for clubs to make environmental improvements. The resources identify the issues clubs face such as waste management, biodiversity, pollution and event delivery and indicates the incentives of applying sustainable practices and what clubs can do. Supported by case studies, the resources can be applied across small and large yacht clubs.

For more information in the Guide to Sustainable Sailing Clubs, click here.

“Having personally carried out environmental audits at around 250 sailing clubs and 300 marinas I found that each club has common areas that need addressing,” said Dan Reading, Head of Sustainability at World Sailing. “More often than not cost savings can be made by applying best practice outlined in these resources and those funds can be reinvested back into the club.

“Based on this experience and with the support of 11th Hour Racing and the World Sailing Trust we have created an online environmental self-assessment tool. This tool is simple to use and can be used on a computer of phone. Users will be asked a detailed series of questions about your club and once complete you will then receive a benchmark score with a tailored action plan so you can help make the club more sustainable.

“This action plan will also feature case studies of what other clubs have done to address the issues. Having sat on a sailing club committee, I understand the budgetary pressures but also the support from club members to protect our sailing areas. This tool will hopefully help address two of these issues.”

To use the self-assessment tool, click here.

Dee Caffari, Chair or the World Sailing Trust added, “This initiative from the World Sailing Trust, in conjunction with World Sailing, acts as a guide to encourage sailing and yacht clubs to embrace environmental sustainability and to act as a catalyst for clubs to make environmental improvements.

“The main resource is a self-assessment survey which generates a tailored action plan for short term and long-term benefits dependent on the responses entered. This resource really will benefit clubs, helping them reduce costs and become more sustainable. The process can be repeated so you can monitor and record improvements and see the impact of any changes made. Let us future proof our sport together.”

David Mead, President International Council of Yacht Clubs, believes that for clubs to prosper both competitively and sustainably, then there exists the need to recognize the world is changing and not to be fearful of embracing and guiding those changes.

“The future of our Clubs and indeed, our sport, be it ocean racing, cruising under sail and power, or racing round the cans will only develop further if we continue seeking ways of better safeguarding the waters of our planet; encouraging the next generations to treasure what we have all taken for granted, because without looking for ways of sustaining this wonderful natural resource it will be lost to us,” said Mead.

“The ICOYC is already considering how best to develop programs on accessibility, youth and promotion of sustainable environmental practices, some of which overlap the aims and objectives of the Trust, so as a big part of the global sailing community, we offer our congratulations and endorse their online yacht club sustainability self-assessment tool.”

Source: World Sailing