Safety for Sailors & Sea Life - Sailors for the Sea

Safety for Sailors & Sea Life

 May 14, 2026  | By: Emily Conklin

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 and cause fatal injuries to the animals. As part of the Clean Regattas program, we work with events to understand the habitat and wildlife they will encounter and how to avoid harmful encounters. Our friends at the Marine Mammal Advisory Group and World Sailing published the “Marine Megafauna in Sailing” resource earlier this year to provide a Nature Action planning tool for sailing events to use in their planning. The guidance aims to deweaponize reporting, encouraging sailors to plan for and respond to any megafauna interaction with a mind for safety and environmental sustainability.  

We had the opportunity to join the Marine Mammal Advisory Group and their collaborators during the online World Sailing Sustainability Sessions. Watch the recording to learn more!