The 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 sailors assembled again ahead of the 2019 Volvo European Championship to spend some time cleaning up a local beach to the club we were at. Joined by our partners for the Europeans, the RYA and Volvo Car UK, our partners in sustainability Parley.tv and The Final Straw Solent, we got a chance to give back to the region we’re visiting and bond over taking care of the environment.
Chesil Beach is a unique ecosystem, with an estimated 180 BILLION fist size pebbles over 18 miles protecting the Dorset coast from the open Atlantic Ocean, it’s unlike any other beach. A brief lecture from the Chesil Beach center let us know the unique birds and pond life we might be helping. A lecture from The Final Straw showed us alternative products that are available to reduce use of plastic, like bamboo tooth brushes and even tooth paste that comes in a bar instead of a plastic tube. We then set out to collect all the rubbish we could in the blustery but sunny conditions.
As the class manager of 49er and Nacra 17 sailing, I am concerned about the environment, so was thrilled when Yago Lange (ARG) approached me with the initiative to start giving back ahead of all our events. He’s been the driving force behind the #Sailors4theSea movement, which is catching on quickly. I have to admit though, that I was a little bit cynical about whether we could make an impact, and it felt a little bit like if plastic is taken from a beach, but it wasn’t caught on Instagram, did it really happen?
Both in Palma and now in Weymouth, along with my fellow sailors, I headed out to lend a hand, and somewhat surprisingly, I’m hooked on the concept. Not only is there rubbish everywhere once you start looking for it, but it’s an extra hour to spend on a beach, which is always a good thing. It’s a chance to chat with friends in a relaxed but purposeful way. It’s a way to explore new areas, and look in detail at exactly where I’m standing. I really recommend trying it, as it’s almost therapeutic. No phones, no complexity, just walking and cleaning with the waves crashing and sun shining.
I know it’s not just me either. This is a voluntary initiative of the class, nobody is taking attendance or taking names. But as I looked around at World Champions, medalists, and newcomers all joining in together, it’s easy to see the fleet really cares about this. Earlier this week the 470 class and the Finn class also did their own beach cleans ahead of their Euros.
As a group we managed to collect a fair load of rubbish, which is both satisfying and frightening at the same time. There simply is so much to pick up, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we’ll continue these beach cleans and continue to encourage you all to join in when we’re in your neighborhood, and maybe some of you will take a walk down your local beach or car park to do the same.
Thanks to the RYA for using this beach clean to kick off their own sustainability programs. Thanks to Volvo for pledging to use 25% recycled plastic in their cars by 2025, which is very soon by automotive standards. Thanks to all the NGO’s out there fighting to protect our oceans from the plastic menace we’ve created. Parley help focus us on AIR – Avoid – Intercept – Redesign. We managed to do a little bit on all three fronts, and every little bit helps. #Sailors4theSea
By Ben Remocker
Regatta Information
Venue:
- Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1SA
Contacts:
- Will Carson, Event Media Manager – +44 (0) 7769 505203 or will.carson@rya.org.uk
- Dimitris Tsakiroglou, TV Production Manager +306944352961 – dtsak@icarus-sports.com
- Ben Remocker, 49er and Nacra 17 Class Manager – ben@porttackracing.com
Schedule:
Wednesday 8 May 1700 Beach Clean
Friday 10 May 0900 – 1800 Registration/Inspection
1030 Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre official opening
1900 Nacra 17 Open Class Forum
Saturday 11 May 0900 – 1800 Registration/Inspection
1000 – 1600 Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre open day
1900 49er Open Class Forum
Sunday 12 May 0900 – 1100 Registration/Inspection
1255 Practice Races
1730 Competitors Briefing
1800 Opening Ceremony
Monday 13 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Tuesday 14 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Wednesday 15 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Thursday 16 May 1055 Qualifying or Fleet Races
Friday 17 May 1055 Fleet Races
Saturday 18 May 1055 Fleet Races
Sunday 19 May 0955 Fleet Races
1500 Medal Races
TBC Prize giving
Broadcast:
- Between May 16 and 19, Icarus
Sports will be producing:
- A daily two-minute highlights video
- VNR and interviews for news
- Footage can be downloaded from the Icarus portal – https://portal.icarus-sports.com/
- Please contact Will Carson to request interviews
Live show:
- From May 16-19 a live show including coverage of the racing will be broadcast via the 49er class Youtube channel and the Nacra 17 class Youtube channel. The presenters are Genny Tulloch, Andy Rice, and a daily guest host.
Social media:
- Please follow the 49er and Nacra 17 class social media channels for the latest info from the regatta.
Results:
- Results will be posted race by race
