U.S. SailGP Team Partners with Ocean Conservancy's Protect Where We Play Initiative

The U.S. SailGP Team today announced a new partnership with Ocean Conservancy's Protect Where We Play initiative to support its Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), a global effort to remove lost and abandoned fishing gear from the ocean and prevent it from harming marine ecosystems.

The collaboration brings together elite sport and ocean advocacy to raise awareness of "ghost gear" — lost and abandoned fishing gear that continues to trap marine life, damage habitats, and contribute to ocean pollution long after it enters the water. Through storytelling, athlete engagement, and live events throughout the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, the partnership will mobilize fans and stakeholders to better understand the issue and support solutions being advanced through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative's work in the United States and around the world.

"The ocean is our playing field, so protecting it is deeply personal for us," said Mike Buckley, Co-Owner, Team Principal & CEO of the U.S. SailGP Team. "Partnering with Ocean Conservancy and Protect Where We Play gives us the opportunity to use our platform to raise awareness about ghost gear and support the work being done to remove it from the water."

Ghost gear is one of the most harmful forms of marine debris, continuing to trap marine life, damage coral reefs, and threaten coastal communities and their livelihoods long after it enters the ocean.

The partnership will launch with a season-long engagement campaign designed to educate fans about the threat of ghost gear and inspire action to support solutions. Ocean Conservancy scientists will connect with U.S. SailGP Team athletes through educational sessions on the environmental impact of ghost gear and the work being done through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative's global network, while athletes will have the opportunity to join as Protect Where We Play Team Ocean Captains, a network of professional athletes and entertainers advocating for ocean health. The U.S. SailGP Team will also produce digital storytelling and educational content featuring its athletes and Ocean Conservancy experts, hosted on a dedicated online hub for fans.

The collaboration will extend to live programming throughout the season, with Protect Where We Play integrated into select race-week events. Protect Where We Play will also work with the team to identify opportunities for U.S. SailGP Team athletes to visit Global Ghost Gear Initiative projects during the 2026 season, offering first-hand exposure to the work being done to remove ghost gear and protect marine ecosystems.

"We're thrilled to welcome the U.S. SailGP Team and their incredible athletes to Protect Where We Play," said Jenna DiPaolo, Ocean Conservancy's chief brand and communications officer. "These athletes are respected ocean experts in their own right, and with their added voices on this issue, Ocean Conservancy and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative can make a real difference raising awareness and advancing solutions."

The collaboration will also contribute to the U.S. SailGP Team's efforts in the SailGP Impact League, the championship's season-long competition recognizing teams that drive measurable environmental and social impact alongside performance on the water.