Sea Bags named official sustainability sponsor for Newport Bermuda Race

Sea Bags named official sustainability sponsor for Newport Bermuda Race © Sea Bags

The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC) is taking steps toward making the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race a more sustainable event this year, welcoming Sea Bags as its Official Sustainability Sponsor.

A designer and manufacturer of totes and accessories from recycled sail cloth in Portland, Maine, Sea Bags will provide a solution for competitors at the Newport Bermuda Race to recycle unusable sails.

In addition to introducing an option for recycling sails, the Newport Bermuda Race is partnering with Sailors for the Sea to promote best practices to help the race again achieve Clean Regatta status. Race skippers are encouraged to appoint an "environmental steward" on board to help the crew prepare and compete with sustainability in mind. These stewards are the core of the Bermuda Race Green Team and are helping shepherd the race towards a more sustainable future.

"To connect Newport Bermuda Race sailors with a program to recycle and reuse old sails is a privilege, said Chan Reis, head of the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race Green Team. "It perfectly aligns with our effort to invite new, creative solutions for reducing the race's footprint. Doubtless, some of the sail inventory of Bermuda Race entrants will end up in Sea Bags' 'vintage' collection."

Since 1999, Sea Bags has helped keep over 700 tons of old, unusable, or retired sails out of landfills. Today, Sea Bags is determined to have a larger impact in the future of retail manufacturing through meaningful partnerships, advocacy, and inspiration— all while continuing to craft and deliver one-of-a-kind handmade products. The Sea Bags Sail Trade Program— which took in nearly 16,000 sails in the last two years alone— will spearhead this partnership with the Newport Bermuda Race.

During the Newport Bermuda Race, Sea Bags will have a location at Race Headquarters at Sail Newport to collect sails between June 13 and June 17. Sails can also be brought to the Sea Bags Newport Store, any time during business hours.

"This historical race is one we've long aspired to take part in," says Beth Greenlaw, Sea Bags President and Chief Sustainability Officer. "We are thrilled to see the race evolve to include sustainability and several "leave no trace" efforts. Being good stewards to the sailing community, and to our Earth and Oceans is key to our mission, and we look forward to fostering our relationship with the Newport Bermuda Race for years to come".

Sea Bags has also created a limited-edition collection featuring an antique nautical chart of previous Newport Bermuda Race courses with 20% of sales going to offset the Newport Bermuda Race committee expenses. The collection features a Medium Tote, $160, Beverage Bucket Bag, $75, and Wristlet, $30, and will be available online and at the company's Newport retail store, located at 25 Bowen's Wharf.