Competitive sailing has been following a high performance, high speed, ‘win at any cost model' for years. This comes with an environmental cost due to the energy and waste intensive nature of the boat building process. Transitioning the industry to a more sustainable model is complex. It requires us to challenge the underlying paradigms of our sport, address industry path dependency, develop supportive mechanisms [rules, finance, data] and innovate under new constraints, with new goals. There is a broad range of challenges, however there are also practical, immediate actions that can progress the industry on the road to 2030.

In 2021 The Ocean Race commissioned a research and engagement project to survey industry representatives, review existing industry research and published action plans, and develop a Roadmap to highlight key actions where immediate action is required. To co-create this Roadmap an Innovation Workshop was held in September 2021 to gather industry experts and stakeholders to define immediate actions.

ROADMAP INNOVATION WORKSHOP 2021 INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND ACTIONSGET INVOLVED!

ROADMAP

The product of this work and co-design is a Roadmap that aims to help the industry align with global 2030 requirements to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. The Roadmap addresses specific focus areas for action summarised below. The detailed ROADMAP living document can be viewed here.

Roadmap summary, for the focus areas that address key industry impacts [click on the image to view a full-page window]

Roadmap summary, for the focus areas that address enablers for change [click on the image to view a full-page window]                                                                                                  

INNOVATION WORKSHOP 2021

The interactive graphic below summarises the key points and discussions from September's Innovation Workshop. There were 10 Breakout Groups, each focussed on a different issue or enabler. 
> Double-click on a circular element of the graphic and a side panel will appear with detail. 
> The size of a circle relative to other circles of the same colour indicates the relative importance of that Action or Challenge. 
> Hover over an element to see how it links and interconnects with other Actions, Challenges or Breakout Group topics.

Press play below to view a recording of the Innovation Workshop [excludes Breakout Group sessions]

INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND ACTIONS

We undertook an industry-based survey in 2021 to better understand current opinions on how the industry is faring on sustainability and to identify the main barriers.

You can read the REPORT of that survey and industry engagement here. 

Since 2016, The Ocean Race has been involved in three workshops: one with Persico Marine boat builders in 2016, a workshop in Newport during the 2017-18 Race stopover, and an Innovation Workshop in Genoa in 2019. 

All of these events had high levels of interest and identified clear actions that the industry can take to reduce its impacts. 

Furthermore we have drawn on a framework outlined by Carbon Trust developed in their Roadmap for the Decarbonisation of the European Recreational Marine Craft Sector.

Reports can be viewed here:

• REPORT | Sustainable Boat Building Innovation Workshop 2019 (PDF)

• CARBON TRUST | Roadmap for decarbonisation of the European marine craft sector (PDF)

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The industry research identified many actions that the industry is already taking to reduce impacts, these range from testing new materials to improving energy efficiency. We’ve gathered all these great examples, as well as some from other industries, into this live IMPACT REDUCING ACTIONS document. Use it to find inspiration and ideas and let us know if you have anything you’d like us to add.

GET INVOLVED!

This roadmap has been co-created with the input of over 80 companies and we need EVERYONE to drive this forward! If you would like more information on how you can get involved or you can see a specific area that you or your company can contribute to, please contact annececile.turner@theoceanrace.com.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ORGANISATIONS WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS INITIATIVE

AkzoNobel, Anthesis, Atelier Interface, Audélor, Ave-Chimera, Bass-Pro Shops, BComp, BK Yacht Design, Bristol University, Brunswick Corporation, Carrington Boats, CDK Technologies, Composites Evolution, Défi Azimut, DMG Mori Sailing Team, Doyles Sails, DSM, Energy Cluster Denmark, ENS Rennes, EuroLarge Innovation, European Boating Industry Association, Everial, Exo Technologies, Fédération des Industries Nautiques, Foiling Week / Sumoth Sustainable Design Challenge, Future Fibres, Generation 21, Gottifredi Maffioli, Greenboats, GS4C, GSea Design, Gurit, Guillaume Verdier Architecture Navale, Hall Spars, Harken, ICOMIA, IMOCA, International Optimist Dinghy Association, Kairos, King Marine, Inner Loop Solutions, Julian Bethwaite, Lorima, Mackay Boats, MerConcept, Mission for the Future team, MultiPlast, National Composites Centre UK, Navico, North Sails, OceansLab, Oceanvolt, Offshore Rigging Services, Outremer Catamarans, Ovington Boats, Ox Eye, Permare SRL / Amer Yachts, Philip Briand, RIMTA, Royal Yachting Association, Schütz Composites, Southern Spars NZ, Southern Wind Yachts, Starboard, Swell Marine Innovation Funding, Team AkzoNobel, Team Malizia, The Carbon Trust, The Ocean Race, The Race Around, Transat Jacques Vabre, Université de Nantes, Wessex Resins, Williams Jet Tenders, World Sailing, VPLP, 11th Hour Racing, 11th Hour Racing Team / 1 Degree.