First Platinum Level Clean Regattas Certification awarded in 2014

by Hilary Kotoun on 9 Jun 2014 The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing earns highest-level certification. Praised as most sustainable regatta in the United States!

Sailors for the Sea is proud to recognize The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing as the first Platinum Level Clean Regatta in 2014. The Platinum Level certification is the highest possible certification awarded in the Clean Regattas program, with a 62 point best management practices checklist. The Atlantic Cup race organizers, Manuka Sports Event Management, worked closely with Sailors for the Sea to ensure 95% of these practices were met in Charleston, SC, New York, NY, and Newport, RI.

'The Atlantic Cup is a model regatta in terms of sustainability, with race organizers looking to reduce their environmental impact and achieve carbon neutrality. Our online case study of the event allows other regattas to learn from The Atlantic Cup and implement some of these best practices at their own events,' said Tyson Bottenus, Sailors for the Sea program coordinator.

Sustainability Highlights

• With the help of 111 volunteers removed 707 pounds of trash found along four miles of Rhode Island shoreline.

• In order to be a carbon neutral regatta, organizers tracked and offset all fuel usage, hotel stays, staff and spectator travel, and mileage for trash to landfill.

• While sailing up the east coast, sailors recorded marine debris data to aide researchers in their quest to rid the ocean of plastic.

• By eliminating single-use water bottles and switching to a water bottle refilling station, regatta organizers were able to prevent the use of 822 water bottles.

Clean Regattas is a certification program that helps sailing events voluntarily achieve higher environmental standards. Participants work to fulfill comprehensive Best Practices and receive the economic, public relations and social benefits of running environmentally friendly events. Sailors for the Sea provides support and materials, and the final certification that a club or event is a Clean Regatta. The Platinum Level was originally created through Sailors for the Sea’s partnership with the 34th America’s Cup. To learn more about the Clean Regattas program contact Tyson Bottenus (tyson@sailorsforthesea.org) or visit Clean Regattas.

Julianna Barbieri from Manuka Sports Event Management noted: 'We are delighted to be certified by Sailors for the Sea as a Platinum Level Clean Regatta! Not only is The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing committed to putting on a hard-fought intense competition on the water, but we also believe strongly in leading the in organizing the most environmentally sustainable sailing race in the United States. It is our hope that our practices will inspire other race organizers around the country to implement the Clean Regattas program.'

To learn more about different aspects of sustainability in action at The Atlantic Cup visit their webpage on sustainability, and Sailors for the Sea blog posts from Charleston, New York, and Newport.

About Sailors for the Sea: Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. To learn more about Sailors for the Sea or to support the organization, visit Sailors for the Sea.