Photo: Stephen Cloutier

One of the main draws to the sport of offshore sailing is how it immerses sailors in the immense natural beauty of our planet’s oceans. Because of that, many sailing events—the Newport Bermuda Race among them—feel a responsibility to protect the ocean and the environment.

For the 2024 race, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC) prioritized environmental stewardship in its planning. That prioritization paid off recently as the race’s latest edition was certified as a platinum-level Clean Regatta by Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana.

To achieve Clean Regatta status, a race must meet certain best practices laid out by Sailors for the Sea. These include the elimination of single-use items, community involvement, responsible waste management, environmental stewardship, and green boating. Platinum level events feature the highest standards of using these best practices.

Newport Bermuda Race Green Team leader Chan Reis was instrumental in this achievement for the 2024 race. “We gave attendees a chance to participate in one of the world’s great yachting events, and in return, we get an invaluable chance to share our sustainability messages and demonstrate best practices,” said Reis.

2024 efforts included increasing the number of designated environmental stewards on each crew. Sailors who were “e-stewards” helped to ensure their vessels used sustainability best practices during their thrash to the onion patch.

Another monumental effort was ensuring that the Starting Line Live Show at Newport’s Fort Adams allowed the community to participate in the race, while also keeping green. Thanks to the help of the Shore Crew volunteers and event staff, the show featured high standards for trash collection, recycling, and water bottle filling stations.

“Everyone at BROC and the Bermuda Race Foundation is immensely proud that the Newport Bermuda Race has once again achieved platinum Clean Regatta status,” said Race Chair Andrew Kallfelz. “As the race continues to grow and expand, we want to ensure our oceans and environment are healthy enough for us to put on this storied event for decades to come. That is why sustainability is such a high priority.”

For the next edition of the race, scheduled for June of 2026, Reis hopes to expand stakeholder engagement in sustainability efforts. “From those who build boats and equipment to the network of support personnel, whether they be boatyards or food vendors, we aim to learn what they are doing in sustainability and to promote their efforts. And, of course, we want to continue highlighting the quiet, meaningful contributions of recreational offshore sailors.”