Emily Conklin, Author at Sailors for the Sea

Emily Conklin

Accessibility & Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand 

We are thrilled to welcome our first new member of our Clean Class Initiative in 2026, the Hansa Class. The Hansa Class champions the idea of “sailing for everyone” and is the first member of our initiative focused on parasailing. With over 2800 Hansa sailboats on the water in 35 countries throughout the world, we look forward to collaborating to … Read more

Sustainable Strategies Onboard Tall Ships

There are endless amounts of ways to enjoy being on the water. Though a lot of our work focuses on racing and regattas, we are honored to work on sustainability with events and organizations outside of this norm, from paddlers to rowers and any other way folks appreciate the water. One group we have been delighted to lean more … Read more

2025 in Review: Clean Regattas Highlights

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 … Read more

Skipper’s Corner: Meet Jackie

Based just across Narragansett Bay from the Sailors for the Sea office, Jackie Ruggieri has always had a strong connection to the ocean. In Jamestown, Rhode Island, Jackie grew up racing Optis and C420s before competing at Milton Academy during high school. She now sails dinghies and keelboats for her college team, as well as racing an … Read more

Skipper’s Corner: Plastic Pollution Pet Peeves

Bill Liles has been a Skipper volunteer since the program’s inception in 2020, and an advocate for Clean Regattas even longer. As a longtime sailor and member of the Corpus Christi Yacht Club in Corpus Christi, Texas, he knows the power that sailors have to make a difference in their communities. Now the Commodore of … Read more

Partnering with World Sailing: The Future of Sustainability in the Sport 

With Clean Regattas hosted in 53 countries around the world, we rarely get the opportunity to see our organizers face-to-face. Most of our work supporting events happens virtually, and we’ve gotten to know hundreds of clubs without ever stepping foot inside them. This is part of why it was such a treat to attend this year’s World Sailing Conference in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, an annual gathering of the sailing industry’s … Read more

Skipper’s Corner: Tackling Conservation through Technology

whale strike

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered large whales on the planet. Named for being the “right” whale to hunt, North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling until hunting this species was banned in 1935. Now the whales are on the brink of extinction mostly due to threats … Read more

Skipper’s Corner: Meet Sarah “Say” Craig

We are honored to announce the most recent addition to our Skipper volunteer program, Sarah “Say” Craig. Based in Marina del Ray, CA and Eugene, OR, Say is a competitive outrigger canoe racer and a passionate environmentalist. She paddles long distances to bring awareness to the trash crisis and is founder of Trash Tramp, a … Read more

Conservation through Community

For the second year in a row, the Sailors team had the honor of heading west for the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. This event, the largest wooden boat festival in North America, is helmed by our Skipper volunteer Barb Trailer, who is dedicated to running a successful event that is not only a ton … Read more

Talking – and Taking – Ocean Action 

Ocean action is climate action. The ocean plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Protecting our ocean means safeguarding our future against climate impacts – yet the ocean is often left out of climate conversations. This Ocean Action Month, we’re highlighting the important role of the ocean and how we can … Read more