Event Details | |
| Host | Niantic Bay Yacht Club |
| Location | Niantic, USA |
| Certification Level | Platinum |
| Website Link | nbyc.org |
Best Practices Achieved
1. Eliminate Single-Use Water Bottles and Provide Water Refill Stations
1. Sailors are required to bring their own water bottle to use while racing and for drinks at receptions. Single use cups not provided. Water bottle refilling station provided with cool water (photo of water bottle station)
2. Eliminate Plastic Straws
2. Straws not available.
3. Serve Food with Plastic-Free Dinnerware
3. Only napkins were provided for "grab and go" food at morning and afternoon receptions. (photo provided of food setup)
4. Skip Bags or Go Reusable
4. Dry bags encouraged for lunch
5. Award Practical Items or Use a Perpetual or Upcycled Trophy
5. Sailing journal authored by a NBYC sailor were awarded to 1st 2nd and 3rd place in all classes. (photo provided of journals on awards table)
6. Publicize Your Sustainability Efforts
6. Green team Member, Jennifer Stivrins, posted multiple social media posts via NBSA channels (reposted by Sailors for the Sea and Girl Scouts of CT) with details of the various green initiatives. We did a countdown to the regatta with a green practice highlighted each day. (picture of our NBSA Instagram channel provided).
7. Involve Local Organizations
7. Niantic Bay Sailing academy sponsored two marine biologists from Mystic Aquarium. In a evening activity at NBYC, they set up a touch tank of live marine animals and a table of dry specimens of sea life. All NBYC members were invited and over 50 families participated in this event.
Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resources Recovery Authority provided a debris tank to demonstrate the problem ocean pollution. This tank was present and viewed throughout the day by the sailors. (photos of both the Mystic event and the SCRRRA tank are provided)
8. Post Educational and Reusable Signage
8. Signs on repurposed materials, designating compost, water station, and rules of the clean regatta were created by junior sailors and posted throughout the yacht club. During a race postponement a group of sailors from different yacht clubs enjoyed making an additional sign. (photo of sign creation attached)
9. Serve Local Food or Source Seafood Sustainably
9. A large bowl of locally grown blueberries were included in the breakfast buffet. (photo of blueberries with sign crediting Hunts Brook Farm is provided)
10. Organize a Green Team
10. We have a green team of 6, including 2 very helpful and resourceful junior coaches. Olivia Murin and Kennedy Nemec are high school students, who monitored green practices throughout the regatta. Olivia is earning her Girl Scout Gold award through her work in promoting SFS clean practices. She will be presenting her project to her Girl Scout administration through a slide show and oral presentation. (photo of Green Team provided)
11. Ensure Proper Waste Bin Placement and Signage
11. Compost signs designating bins for food waste were posted near the food. Food waste from fruits and bread were separated and sent to a team member's compost container. Bags from hamburger and hot dog roll packaging were collected and returned to stop and shop for recycling. Plastic clasps on the bags were given to a food pantry for their use in packaging . (photos of plastic bag recycling and compost signs are attached)
12. Divert Food Waste from the Landfill
12. Minimal waste was generated from this day long regatta. Two garbage cans were less than a 1/4 full. The 5 compost buckets were full of waste from fruits and bread. (picture of trash can provided)
13. Use Paperless Event Management
13. Registration was paperless. Registrants received all of their information electronically. All registrants signed the SFS pledge. (photo of paper-free registration table attached)
14. Host a Beach or Marina Cleanup
14. Beach clean up was performed following the 4th of July weekend at the yacht club beach. (photos of beach clean up provided)
15. Prevent Toxins from Entering the Water
15. All Boats are washed with water only. (see image of boat washing with hose)
16. Increase Awareness of Wildlife and Habitat Protection
16. See 6 above re: natural habitat preservation social media posts and 7 re: Mystic Aquarium and SCRRRA collaboration.
17. Offer Vegetarian or Vegan Alternatives
17. Fruit, bagels with cream offered for breakfast and throughout.
18. Promote Alternative Transportation
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19. Reduce Day-of Emissions
19. Spectators watched the regatta from the end of the breakwater of Niantic Bay Yacht Club . There was not the need for motor boats for spectating. Coach and mark boats were used.
20. Inspire Future Action
20. One of the goals this year is to involve young sailors. Olivia Murin and Kennedy Nemec were involved in the planning and execution of the regatta. They organized the beach clean up and reinforced practices at the regatta. They helped with the Mystic Aquarium sea life presentation. The hope is that next year, with support, Olivia and Kennedy will be registering the Larry White with the Sailors for the Sea and they will be the contact people. Three green team members, Olivia, Kennedy and Jenni, presented "clean regatta" strategies at the award ceremony. Junior sailors and their coaches from 12 yacht clubs received "tips" on how to organize a SFA clean regatta. (photos of speaking to the crowd attached)
