University Sailing Sustainability Challenge The Green Blue

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

The USSC encourages and recognises USCs across the UK that are actively implementing sustainable practices. The challenge runs from September to February, culminating in an Awards Ceremony at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. Clubs achieving the challenge’s criteria are awarded certificates and prizes, highlighting their dedication to sustainability.

The USSC 2024-25 introduces an updated criteria, offering more creativity, flexibility, and variety in how USCs can undertake and present their sustainable actions. Each USC chooses four actions from a possible list of nine.

CHALLENGE GOALS:

• Skill and Knowledge Development: Empower young people by enhancing their skills and knowledge in sustainability and leadership.
• Sustainable Sailing Advocacy: Create advocates for sustainable sailing to inspire the broader boating community towards sustainable choices.
• Guidance and Recognition: Offer guidance and recognition to USCs committed to making their clubs and sailing venues more sustainable.
• Collaboration and Innovation: Foster collaboration and innovation in developing environmentally sustainable solutions.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS INCLUDE:

• Making sailing events more environmentally sustainable e.g. eliminating single use plastics e.g. ensuring re-usable sports bottles and coffee cups at training sessions and events.
• Raising awareness of sustainable boating best practice e.g. following the Check Clean Dry approach to removing harmful Invasive Non-Native Species.
• Undertaking an environmental assessment with sailing venues to improve the sustainability of facilities and operations.
• Club members to take The Green Blue Boating Pledge to Respect, Protect and Enjoy where they sail.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Don’t miss the opportunity to show your USC’s dedication to sustainability and inspire the wider sailing community. By getting involved, your club’s efforts will not only get recognised but will also make a real impact on your local environment.

For more information and to enter your University Sailing Club into the challenge, contact The Green Blue team at [email protected].

Let us sail towards a greener future together!

FOLLOW THE CHALLENGE

See what participating university sailing clubs have done in past challenges and cheer on the University Sailing Clubs through the current challenge by following:

• #GreenBlueUniChallenge
• @TheGreenBlue on Twitter and Facebook
• @the_green_blue on Instagram

CHALLENGE AWARD WINNERS:

UNIVERSITY SAILING CLUB QUOTES:

“The sustainability challenge has been great in stimulating new attitudes as to how our club operates. As an environmental science student, it has given me the chance to apply my knowledge to lessen the environmental impacts of YUSWC. For the club it’s been pivotal in establishing sustainable attitudes of all members, gaining recognition from the university’s sports union and BUSA. There’s always room to improve operations to become more sustainable, and The Green Blue gives impetus to UK sailing clubs to be greener. It’s very gratifying and something every club should get on board with”

Sustainability Officer for York University Sailing and Windsurfing Club (YUSWC), Blair Davies

‘This is our second year of completing the Green and Blue University Challenge and we are happy that we have achieved the silver award! As a club that runs out of a marine protected area, caring for the environment is hugely important to us. Through these challenges, we feel that we have been able to improve how we operate to being more environmentally conscious as well as educating our members and centres that we use on the issues surrounding the environment we sail in! We can’t wait to try and complete the gold award next year!!’

Sustainability Officer for University of Plymouth Sailing & Powerboating Club, Harry Etheridge

“The Green Blue University Challenge is deemed highly important to everyone who is a part of BUSA. It is a great initiative and year on year it has gained increasing participation from University Sailing Clubs, all striving to achieve the next level award and instil lasting sustainable values within their clubs. The ocean is our playground and therefore is it vital we work to create a sustainable sport. Sport as a whole is an enormous part of millions of peoples lives and it makes sense to use our shared passions to create a platform to initiate change and become more sustainable. At universities sports communities are large, and excitingly sustainability in sport is just starting to be addressed, it is great to be able to take part in a challenge that brings our clubs ahead of the curve”

British University Sailing Association (BUSA)

“Protecting blue areas should be high on every sailing club and venue’s list of priorities, and this challenge is an excellent way to raise awareness of the issues the environment faces, and to also encourage new habits on and off the water to make a positive change so we can all keep enjoying everything our blue environment has to offer.”

USC Feedback in the 22-23 survey