Creating a sustainable event, and using our powerful platform to give the ocean a voice, can only happen with the support of every person and organisation that the Race touches.

Read on to meet the essential team members who help make this happen and, if you are inspired to join the race for the ocean, discover how you can take action here.

As witnesses to the declining state of the seas, sailors are passionate ocean advocates that are committed to racing as sustainably as possible. Along with measuring and reducing their impact across their operations, many campaign on ocean health to raise awareness and drive action.

Our teams operate to sustainability requirements and guidelines set by The Ocean Race, IMOCA and World Sailing. For The Ocean Race 2022-23 we went a step further, co-creating with the teams The Ocean Race Team Sustainability Charter to make a fleet-wide commitment to operating sustainably and supporting a healthy ocean. Sailors also signed a 'personal promise', to make an individual commitment to participating in the race in a sustainable way.

For The Ocean Race Europe 2025 a new challenge was put in place to incentivise teams to place even greater emphasis on sustainability. The Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge measured teams against 30 sustainability criteria, along with an impact assessment by an external panel of expert judges. The team that scored highest on its social and environmental efforts received the Jacques Delors Impact Trophy, honoring a visionary leader who connected Europe and used sports to unite European countries.

The Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge is even more ambitious for The Ocean Race Atlantic, with rewards for lowest carbon footprint, best effort for an individual team member, best ocean science communications and an award for the overall winner.

We work closely with our host cities to support them in making commitments and taking action in key areas that support a healthy ocean, including climate change, plastic pollution, and social justice.

Our stopover partners employ the highest standards of sustainable sports events excellence in co-producing each stopover with us. Stopovers have sustainability requirements included in agreements with them, and all have dedicated sustainability co-ordinators to work alongside our global sustainability team.

The Ocean Race’s partners share our commitment to sustainability and are driven by a genuine passion for protecting the planet. Our dedication to racing for the ocean means that every partner we collaborate with typically activates a purpose-led programme with the Race, which they use to inspire their customers, staff and stakeholders.

Meet our partners and learn about their sustainability journeys: Volvo Cars, Red Sea Global (and AMALAA), Helly Hansen and GAC. Along with 11th Hour Racing, our Impact Partner for The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026. 

IMPACT COLLABORATORS

We work with Impact Collaborators to accelerate ocean health, including IOC-UNESCO, IUCN and Mission Blue, along with youth organisations such as EarthEcho and RISE. These not for profit organisations are focused on creating a more sustainable planet and together we use our platforms to amplify messages to far-reaching audiences.