Sustainability Success and continued progress
Through education and collaboration we’re committed to making lasting changes that protect our beautiful coasts and waterways. We’ve continued that work this year and were honoured to receive a few award wins for our dedication to sustainability:
• We were proud to receive the Partnership of the Year award at the BASIS Awards, the UK’s leading celebration of sustainability in sport. The award recognised our contribution to the Clean Water Sports Alliance, a collaborative initiative that brings together water sports organisations to advocate for cleaner waterways and drive positive environmental change across the sector.
• The 2026 Youth National Championships achieved Platinum Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas accreditation, recognising measures to reduce environmental impact, minimise waste and promote sustainable practices.
• Our LIFE ReMEDIES project, delivered through The Green Blue programme alongside partners including Ocean Conservation Trust and the Marine Conservation Society, received the Nature Award at the 2025 BASIS Awards. Focused on restoring seagrass habitats to protect biodiversity and strengthen natural coastal defences, the project engaged more than 29,000 people through over 500 outreach events.
The project’s impact was further recognised with the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in marine sustainability. Judged through a combination of expert assessment and public voting, the award reflects both the environmental significance of the project and its strong resonance with the wider boating community.
• On 30 March 2026, International Day of Zero Waste, we announced our commitment to the Sustainable Sports Apparel Charter, launched by 5Thread. The Charter supports organisations to reduce waste, extend product lifecycles, embed sustainability into procurement and increase the reuse of sports apparel, helping to lower environmental impacts while improving accessibility through reduced participation costs.
20 RYA Annual Strategic Report 2026
Since joining the Charter, 107 kg of sailing kit has been diverted from landfill and incineration. Of this, 62 kg was collected at key events for reuse, redistribution, and recycling, while a further 45 kg was collected for upcycling through an event partner. These actions support our circular economy ambitions by keeping valuable materials in use for longer and reducing waste across the sport.
20 years of The Green Blue
Sustainability isn’t a passing phase for us – it’s a long- term commitment that we’ve been working on for years. Our early efforts began with the implementation of our environmental programme, The Green Blue. Created to empower the boating community to make more sustainable choices, The Green Blue celebrated its twentieth anniversary this year.
To mark this milestone, our President, HRH The Princess Royal, attended our first Protect our Playground reception at the Southampton International Boat Show in September 2025. Leading figures from the environmental, sporting and marine sectors joined us as we celebrated the progress we’ve made so far, such as the success of The Green Blue Pledge and recent work to preserve seabed meadows. The event was also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges we still face today, recognising that we must continue to collaborate so future generations can enjoy the water just as we have.
The next generation of The Green Blue
The RYA Green Blue University Sailing Sustainability Challenge (USSC), sponsored by Royal Thames Yacht Club, celebrated its tenth year in 2025/26 and achieved its highest level of participation to date, with 26 university sailing clubs from across the UK taking part. The challenge showcases student-led environmental action, from equipment repair and reuse to waste reduction, habitat protection and community engagement. The University of Bristol Sailing Club was named overall winner, recognised for their innovative approach to sustainability, including repurposing retired sails and extending the lifespan of boats through repair and maintenance, helping to reduce waste and promote sustainable behaviours across the club.
Meaningful reduction in our impact on climate and biodiversity while inspiring positive action by others.
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