One of the many joys of sailing is being able to see marine wildlife while on the water and enjoy nature. Our playground is home to a wealth of wildlife and, whether we are racing or cruising, we need to keep their wellbeing in mind. Collisions with marine megafauna such as whales and turtles can cause damage to vessels, endanger sailors’ lives … Read more
Guest post from Skipper Volunteer Jeff Boyle, based in Chicago, IL Here in the Midwest, our sailing season takes a six month pause every year. Ice capped harbors and frosty winds whipping down from the north generously offer boaters on the Great Lakes time for other pursuits while we dream of summer. Just when we’ve given up … Read more
Captain Robert Gardner has always been an environmental advocate, from growing up outdoors to leading wilderness expeditions to founding Charisma Sailing, his sailing school in South Florida. Charisma Sailing was founded on their belief in doing their part to preserve our wonderful planet for future generations. Their philosophy is all about helping clients discover the mind-altering beauty and tranquility of sailing and … Read more
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 para sailing. With almost 4,000 Hansa sailboats on the water in 35 countries throughout the world, we look forward to collaborating … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
