From local youth events to international offshore races, 2025 was a banner year for Clean Regattas around the globe. We are proud of our organizers and the wide array of events they represent. Whether your events involve twenty attendees or twenty thousand, there is always a way to incorporate sustainability. Here are some details of several events from 2025 who achieved our Clean Regattas Best Practices in unique and exciting ways:
Our first ever Clean Regatta hosted in the country of Finland, the Garmin ORC Doublehanded Europeans set the bar high by achieving Platinum Level Certification. The event organizers worked with local organizations to reduce food miles, provide bikes for attendees as alternative transportation, and educate attendees about plastic pollution. Their work is an inspiration to all offshore races and played a role in encouraging the Offshore Racing Congress to adopt a requirement at their 2025 Annual General Meeting for all championships to be certified Clean Regattas! Amazing growth!
The Windward Women of the Halifax Sailing Association held their 4th annual Pink Ribbon Regatta for youth and adult sailors. They implemented many forms of reuse, including repurposing old sails as trailer tags, and using thrifted or donated baskets for regatta and auction materials. Prizes for all participants and volunteers included multitools donated by Halifax Health Foundation as well as ornaments with the regatta logo, club logo, or sailboat graphics. All women and girls who raced were also given beautiful pink orchids. We love to see creative and thoughtful ideas like these!
The 180th Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta was also their third year as a certified Platinum Level Clean Regatta. This regatta is a massive event, welcoming over 80,000 visitors throughout the week. Sustainability is a top priority in their planning, which was evident in their choice to introduce an Environmental Day this year! A day was set aside to showcase the many partners who have worked closely with the event over the past few years, including The Seal Project, Til the Coast is Clear, and Friends of the Dart. All partners were offered booths and time on the main stage to share their environmental efforts. The event also emphasizes reuse, still deploying signage created for the 2023 event. Additionally, the event has a deposit scheme for reusable cups with the regatta branding, used by all nearby vendors serving beverages. We love working with the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, as they show that sustainability can be at the forefront even for large events with a long legacy.
We often get asked if there is a model to follow when working on after event reporting – Oman Sail’s report is go-to example. The hard work and detailed reporting from Oman Sail demonstrates their dedication to sustainability and desire to grow. They leaned into partnerships, including the Environment Society of Oman to connect with attendees about the sea turtle species in Oman. Event organizers also partnered with local Artist, Emerson Sumaoang in Al Ashkharah to produce a powerful collaborative art piece made of bottle caps. Event organizers outlined areas of achievement and areas for improvement in their report, emphasizing that there’s always ways to grow. We look forward to what 2026 brings for Oman Sail!
We were honored to work with the Confederação Brasileira de Vela again this year as they earned their first Platinum Level Certification for the Copa Brasil! With beautiful graphics and strong communication, they implemented 19 out of the 20 Clean Regatta Best Practices. They avoided all single-use plastics, including encouraging sailors to bring their own reusable water bottles for refill, sourcing t-shirts without plastic packaging, and working with food partners who prioritized sustainable packaging. The event also partnered with The Kitecoat Project to upcycle sails and other materials that were no longer useable for racing, giving participants a responsible way to upcycle their old gear. The event’s strength was communication, highlighting the “why” behind their actions. Through their communication channels, organizers shared information on where waste ends up, encouraging attendees to rethink consumption and pick up trash wherever it was found. Organizers emphasized the connection to the water and the many ways sailors rely on the health of the ocean. CBVela continues to strive for excellence in sustainability, and we can’t wait to work together in 2026!
