The RYA wins World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award

The Royal Yachting Association has been crowned winner of the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award, at the World Sailing Awards in Bermuda. The award celebrates the effective execution and ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly-replicable sustainability initiatives, aligned to the World Sailing Sustainability Agenda 2030.

Through The Green Blue (a joint environmental initiative between with British Marine) the RYA has been delivering cutting-edge sustainability advice to the recreational boating sector since 2005.

“We are thrilled to have won the award to be recognised for the work we have put in to help make recreational boating more sustainable over the past year, building on nearly 15 years of targeted action,” says Kate Fortnam, The Green Blue campaign manager.

The RYA was chosen as the overall winner for its significantly increased commitment to achieving the sustainability objectives laid out in the World Sailing’s Agenda 2030. 

These actions included increased funding for The Green Blue, in order to reach more of the recreational boating sector and the marine leisure industry with awareness-raising campaigns and best practice guidance, and signing a new Environmental Policy as well as initiating the development of a cross-cutting Sustainability Strategy for the organisation.

The RYA will receive a prize fund of $10,000 as well as an iconic perpetual trophy made from recycled carbon fibre (from an America’s Cup boat) and bioresin.

“This additional funding will be used to support The Green Blue’s development of a national volunteer team,” says Phil Horton, RYA’s Environment and Sustainability Manager. “The team will be fully trained to deliver the environmental programme’s outreach work through educational activities, talks, instructor training and events. This will ensure that the RYA and The Green Blue remain at the forefront of sustainability for recreational boating in the UK.”