SAILORS FOR THE SEA

Results: Through our programs & projects Sailors for the Sea has had over 35,000 participants. Through media publications we have spread out message to over 3.7 million people. ● Since 2006 we have held 80 Clean Regattas, and this program continues to grow rapidly growing in 2010. At Clean Regattas the use of plastic is reduced by encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, having reusable bow numbers, using biodegradable cups, and not using straws. Regattas reduce paper waste by having online registration, press packets, and regatta documents. Water quality is protected by the use of oil spill prevention pads, using bottom paint that is not “soft” and will not leech off chemicals, and by using non-toxic cleaning products. We also require that the organization running the regatta have recycling readily available. ● In June of 2010 our Around the Americas project will have sailed over 24,000 miles and stopped in 30 ports of call. At these stops educators from the Pacific Science Center meet with children and adults to educate them on global and local ocean health issues. The sailing vessel Ocean Watch and her crew welcome people on board to learn about the multiple scientific experiments they perform. ● The documentary A Sea Change has received nationwide recognition with hundreds of showings all over the world, including a standing ovation in Washington, DC on its opening night. It has helped bring Ocean Acidification to the forefront of environmental issues, something very few people had heard of five years ago.

Geographic areas served: We are currently working all around the americas.

Programs: Marine life and vital coastal habitats are straining under global use. The ocean, once considered inexhaustible and resilient, is finite and fragile. Sailors for the Sea is galvanizing a unique community that has not previously had an Ocean Conservation organization to represent them. By working with the boating community to protect and restore the Earth’s waters, Sailors for the Sea is addressing a community that is already passionate about the ocean. Our five core programs and projects are innovative and unique, bringing education and action to the forefront of our mission. ● Clean Regattas is an effort by Sailors for the Sea in conjunction with yacht clubs, sailing programs and individual regattas to reduce the impact of these programs and events on their local waters. ● The web-based program Ocean Watch Essays consists of current essays on ocean conservation issues, and serves as a resource for engagement and stewardship activities. ● Certified Sea Friendly, which will make its debut in 2010, is a voluntary, LEED-style certification program for the marine manufacturing industry. It will make construction, maintenance and operation of vessels more environmentally friendly. ● The Around the Americas expedition is a circumnavigation by sail of North and South America to raise awareness of ocean health issues, perform scientific research, and educate those they meet along the way. ● We are co-sponsors of the powerful documentary entitled A Sea Change. The documentary educates its viewers about ocean acidification, and poses the question what would the world would be like without fish.