VOR Newport Stopover earns Platinum Level Clean Regatta Certification

by Sailors for the Sea on 17 May 2015 We are very proud and excited to honor all of the hard work of dedicated volunteers, sponsors and non-profits that it took for the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover to achieve such a high level of sustainability and be awarded the first Platinum Level Clean Regattas Certification of 2015.

After being reviewed by an independent committee, it was determined the event met 41 points of sustainability out of a possible 42. Since Clean Regattas was created in 2006, over 650 events have participated in the Clean Regattas program with less than 1% achieving Platinum Level Certification. Highlights of the event’s sustainability achievements include:
• Biodiesel, provided by the National Biodiesel Board in partnership with Newport Biodiesel, reduced the event’s carbon footprint by approximately 50,000 pounds. Biodiesel was used in both generators that provided power to the regatta village and will be carried by the individual Volvo 65s.
• The world’s only “blue carbon” offset provider, SeaGrass Grow!, will provide carbon credits by restoring seagrass beds to minimize the events carbon footprint.
• Education throughout the race village, at the Exploration Zone and Ocean Summit focused on the importance of sustainability, marine debris and how individuals can work to protect the ocean.

A grand prix event earns the highest ranking -- and sets new standard for state and race

'Making the Volvo Ocean Race the greenest large event ever held at a Rhode Island state park has been our goal from the start. Combining a sailing race around the world with a call to protect our world gives this event impact and meaning. I am so proud of our sustainability plan -- and our results to date. We will use this experience to set higher standards in Rhode Island, making an impact by influencing individuals who participate in and plan exciting events at our parks,' - Janet Coit, Director, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM).

'The Rhode Island based sustainability committee has done an excellent job planning and implementing a wide variety of methods to draw attention to sustainability and also reduce negative environmental impacts to Fort Adams and the planet. Tyson Bottenus and the entire sustainability committee should be commended for their work in ensuring the Newport stop-over was truly a clean regatta.” - Julianna Barbieri, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Manuka Sports Event Management

“I have to thank the members of the Sustainability Committee for their tremendous efforts to make the stopover a carbon-neutral event. It’s no small feat to divert waste from the state landfill, but we’re proud to be able to say this event will be carbon-neutral.” - Brad Read, Sail Newport Executive Director, a co-host of the stopover.

Special thanks to the many people who helped make this event a Clean Regatta including the Volvo Ocean Race, Sail Newport, SCA, 11th Hour Racing, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Newport Energy and Environment Commission, Clean Ocean Access and Bike Newport.

The independent review committee consisted of experts in regatta management and sustainability and included Christopher McNally, Esq., Julianna Barbieri, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Manuka Sports Event Management, and Michael Brown, founder of Packaging 2.0.