It's a great idea for clubs and their members to consider how they can engage in some more environmentally sustainable practices and there are a number of ways to approach this.
One initiative is the Yachting New Zealand Clean Club programme.
Yachting New Zealand have worked with clubs to develop the Clean Club programme as a way for yachting or boating clubs to take action to not only protect but also enhance the coastlines, oceans and waterways around us.
The Clean Club programme is a framework clubs can adopt to begin or further advance their sustainability journey in five focus areas: Administration & Leadership, Waste Management, Resource Conservation, Community Outreach, and Education.
The Clean Club programme is a progressive system moving from one star through to three stars, depending on how many best-practice criteria a club has achieved.
Click here to register your club to join the programme.
Another initiative is the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas programme. This is a world-leading sustainability certification for water-based events and focuses on five overarching sustainability themes:
- Eliminating the use of single use items
- Environmental stewardship
- Community involvement
- Green boating
- Responsible waste management
There is a clean regattas toolkit which takes you through 20 best practices which your club can choose to work towards.
Clean regattas in New Zealand
Some New Zealand clubs have initiated this programme as part of a special event they hosted.
See the Clean Regatta website to see who has hosted a recent Clean Regatta.
Platinum clean regatta
The Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in 2019 was the first platinum standard clean regatta in New Zealand. They have shared their clean regatta report and it's a valuable tool your club can use to help you start your journey.
The event organisers will be the first to tell you the key to a successful clean regatta is the assembly of a green team, a core group of people dedicated to (or willing to learn more about) sustainability who help plan, communicate and drive your initiatives in your club. Read here about the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships green team.
Green Teams
Many of the clubs listed above have used their experience of clean regattas to make some of the event-based changes everyday practices and procedures for their club. Some have nominated a representative on their committee to look at decisions the club make from an environmental and sustainable perspective.
The green teams in clubs who are continuing with clean regatta philosophies are passionate and willing to share what they have learned. Advice is available for clubs interested in discussing things like suppliers of compostable products, how to make water refill stations and co-operative waste collection agencies.
Please use the form below to reach out here with any questions as our wider Yachting New Zealand club green team are here to help.