Sustainability Award
2023-24 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) has made remarkable contributions to sustainability over the past year through its Clean Oceans program. The club's efforts include initiatives like microplastic water sampling during races, upcycling spent sails, and eliminating single-use items in all destination events, certified Silver by Sailors for the Sea. ORCV’s community-driven approach has engaged local stakeholders and environmental organizations, making it a leader in sustainable sailing across Australia.
2022-23 Ian and Annika Thomson
Ian and Annika Thomson have contributed to a more sustainable sailing industry by confirming that racing yachts have the ability to be electrically powered through their propulsion system, and have actively demonstrated the benefits of recycling and rescuing racing boat hulls from land fill. The Thomsons entered an electrically powered, non fossil fuel boat (that was destined for the rubbish tip) into Australia's two biggest offshore races, taking first and second line honors.
2021-22 Marine Environment Committee
The Marine Environment Committee provides the Fremantle Sailing Club Board with recommendations for improved environmental stewardship, and co-ordinates events encouraging members to make sustainable choices. Through its efforts, many club events now qualify as clean regattas, with significant efforts being made to reduce single-use items at events.
2020-21 Swan River Sailing
SRS has minimized their use of single use plastic wherever possible and practicable. When SRS runs regattas all participants and volunteers are encouraged to BYO water bottles. For larger regattas that run over multiple days, large water jugs/containers are given to teams to fill and take on-water with them for refilling their personal bottles throughout the days and large ‘re-fill’ stations are available on officials and race management boats during the regattas.
2019-20 Ocean Crusaders
Ocean Crusaders Foundation LTD was founded in 2010 on a passion that comes from seeing dead turtles up close in person. It is with that passion that Ocean Crusaders strive to educate people, whilst physically getting out and cleaning up. Founder Ian Thomson launched the campaign by smashing the solo circumnavigation of Australia record. By creating a profile for himself he in turn created awareness of the cause. Ocean Crusaders free online education program is a resource available to teachers and parents world-wide, to download and present to their students/children. It educates them about the oceans, the creatures in them and the hazards they are facing with an emphasis on giving them ideas on what they can do in their every day lives to make a difference.
2018-19 Ocean Respect Racing
In the six months from conception to competition Ocean Respect Racing made a huge impact - their message of healthier oceans and sustainability reaching millions of people. The team led by example, and Refused, Reduced, Reused and Recycled, to run the team operations as sustainably as possible.