International 29er Class joins Sailors for the Sea as a 'Clean Class'
by International 29er Class 22 Dec 2023 07:47 PST
29er European Championship © International 29er Class
The International 29er Class is proud to announce the collaboration with Sailors for the Seas - Powered by Oceana, the world's leading ocean conservation organization that engages, educates and activates the sailing community.
As the first International and Youth sailing class to join in this new initiative, the 29er class are fully committed to working towards a more sustainable future, alongside World Sailing's Agenda 2023. "We are incredibly excited to partner with Sailors for the Sea as a 'Clean Class' - helping to support, educate and guide the class, our sailors, coaches and parents and of course our event host venues to achieve a more sustainable future in all areas." Pippa Kenton-Page, International 29er Class Executive Director.
In 2022, the 29er Class earned Platinum Level Clean Regattas certification for the European Championships in Rungsted, Denmark, demonstrating the progress and commitment made at a regatta of this size. In 2023, both the European and World Championships worked with the Clean Regattas program and the events were able to go paperless and plastic free.
For 2024 and beyond, all of the International 29er EuroCup, European, and World Championships will be Clean Regattas and Sailors for the Sea will support the event hosts and the Class to take the most effective steps to improve environmental sustainability.
Emily Conklin, Program Manager at SfS reflected on the partnership, "we at Sailors for the Sea are absolutely thrilled to have the 29er Class join our growing Clean Class Initiative. We launched the Initiative this year to help classes prioritize sustainability by creating consistent expectations for all participants and providing resources for organizers and class leadership when addressing sustainability challenges. Working with an international class with the reach and young following of the 29ers will not only reduce the environmental impact of their events, but also has the potential to empower many sailors to make changes in their own lives and communities. We're glad to have the 29ers on board and look forward to supporting their sustainability efforts in the upcoming season!"
As a wind powered sport that enjoys and relies upon the ocean and nature for both participation and competition, there has never been a more crucial time to act in support of our planet. We all know we have a huge responsibility to protect the earth, and as the largest youth high performance class with a growing fleet around the world, we want to commit to acting wherever possible. To learn, educate, share and be part of creating solutions locally and internationally with our community, minimising our impact on the planet globally and working together as a sport to find solutions.