Dee Caffari inspires young Lymington sailors to go plastic free

Dee Caffari during the Ocean Summit in Cape Town on 7th December 2017 © Pedro Martinez / Volvo Ocean Race

This year’s Royal Lymington Yacht Club (RLymYC) Junior Regatta is going plastic free inspired by the Volvo Ocean Race campaign to ‘Turn the Tide’ on plastic in the ocean. It is believed to be the first junior regatta in the UK to take up the cause.

Eight million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year and if no action is taken there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

The RLymYC will ban all single use plastic seeking alternative material where possible. Over 200 young sailors are expected to be on the water at this year’s regatta and all will be asked to pledge to reduce their own use of plastic. The hundreds of volunteers it takes to run this regatta will all be asked to bring their own water bottle and sign the pledge. The regatta shop will source sweets without plastic wrappers, serve hot drinks in an alternative cup and ban plastic water bottles and straws. Plenty of water fountains will be available to young sailors filling up their water bottles before going afloat. Catering for the evening regatta parties will use plastic free cutlery and plates. For several years the regatta has chosen to use locally sourced food.

The move has been inspired by Titchfield-based sailor Dee Caffari skipper of V65 ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race (2017-18). Dee is the first woman to sail single handed and non-stop around the world. She is spear heading a strong sustainability message worldwide about ocean health and the responsibility of everyone to make a real contribution to a cleaner future.

Volvo Ocean Race Leg 8 from Itajai to Newport, day 12, on board Turn the Tide on Plastic. – photo © James Blake / Volvo Ocean Race

“I’m absolutely delighted to get the opportunity to sail for a cause I am so passionate about,” says Dee. “Congratulations to Lymington’s young sailors. Cleaner oceans is their future.”

The Volvo Ocean Race is the ultimate test of a team in sport, and racing with a youth-orientated international mixed crew, Dee Caffari is making an impact on and off the water.

Praising this initiative RLymYC Commodore Roger Garlick says: “I’m proud that our young sailors have pushed to make this regatta our first to go plastic free. We need to stop consuming single-use plastic and this young generation need to realise there is no Plan B for our planet and ocean life.”

This year’s Junior Regatta starts on Monday 13 August to 17th. Registration is on Sunday 12 August and entries can be made online via rlymyc.org.uk/OnTheWater/Juniors/Youth_Week

The RLymYC Junior Regatta is the South Coast’s most famous flagship local community junior sailing regatta.

The regatta is supported by Lymington Yacht Haven, Walhampton School and the Lymington Harbour Commission.

Story by Vicky Leen, RLymYC for Sail-World