Skipper's Corner: Meet Alice - Sailors for the Sea

Skipper’s Corner: Meet Alice

 July 17, 2026  | By: Emily Conklin

We are so glad to welcome our first UK-based Skipper, Alice Lucy! Alice is the Environmental Programme Officer at the RYA, where she leads The Green Blue programme. Alice is a competitive Team and Match Racer, and she is now beginning to compete on the international match racing circuit. She is committed to reducing sailing’s environmental impacts, which makes her a perfect fit for our Skipper Volunteer program. Learn more about Alice’s work and dedication to the environment in this brief interview.

How did you get your start in boating and racing? 

I grew up in and around the water and spent a lot of time outdoors, which naturally led me into sailing. I properly started racing at school, and from that point on I never really stopped. 

I got involved in team racing early on and continued through school, university, and club sailing. Alongside that, I competed in fleet racing and more recently match racing. Each format has its own challenges, but they all build the same core skills and love of being on the water. 

Are there any eco-friendly practices you follow while on the water, during racing, or traveling? 

For events, I always try to make sustainability a team effort. We priorities lift sharing to reduce travel emissions and plan ahead to avoid relying on single-use plastics. We’ll bring reusable water bottles, prepare our own food where possible, and aim to minimise food waste by only bringing what we need. 

At a club level, I’ve also been involved in initiatives like kit swaps. These are a great way to help newer or younger sailors access good quality gear without having to buy new, while also extending the life of existing equipment and reducing waste. Small changes like these can make a real difference when they’re adopted consistently across teams and clubs. 

If you could tell people one thing about the importance of keeping our oceans clean, what would it be? 

If we want to keep doing the sports and activities we love, we need to protect and conserve the waters we use. Clean, healthy oceans aren’t just important for the environment; they’re essential for the future of sailing and all watersports. 

It’s easy to think that individual actions are too small to matter, but collectively they add up. By making more conscious choices, we can all play a part in safeguarding our waters for future generations.