Event Details | |
| Host | Columbia Yacht Club |
| Location | Chicago, USA |
| Certification Level | Gold |
| Website Link | https://www.columbiayachtclub.org/ |
Best Practices Achieved
1. Eliminate Single-Use Water Bottles and Provide Water Refill Stations
Columbia Yacht Club (COLYC) has a water refill station located on the rail deck and has proper signage to notify racers. Additionally, COLYC does not sell single-use water bottles, but instead sells aluminum water bottles with screw tops to allow for racers to reuse at our water refill station.
2. Eliminate Plastic Straws
COLYC does not use plastic straws, but instead uses Agave Fiber Straws. 100% NATURAL - Mexican Agave drinking straws are made from natural Agave (Mexican Tequila Plant), making them one of the most sustainable renewable drinking straws available today.
3. Serve Food with Plastic-Free Dinnerware
COLYC uses bamboo plates for our buffets at the regattas and reusable glass/plates for indoor dinning. All silverware used was biodegradable.
4. Skip Bags or Go Reusable
Skippers received a reusable Columbia branded tote bag with reusable regatta cups and logo cozies. All regattas are buffet style and served within the club, which does not require any bags for us to transport.
5. Award Practical Items or Use a Perpetual or Upcycled Trophy
COLYC reward regatta winners with flags that captions enjoy flying and occasionally alcohol bottle. For the overall winners for this regatta, they get their boat name engraved on a reusable trophy that stays at Columbia Yacht Club.
6. Publicize Your Sustainability Efforts
COLYC shares Sailors for the Sea’s conservation message within the yacht club. We promote the green boater pledge within our weekly emails and we are working on building out a public website to share our great efforts and stories. COLYC Conservation Committee website (work in progress): https://sites.google.com/drakedata.io/colyc-conservationcommittee/home?authuser=0
7. Involve Local Organizations
COLYC is teamed up with Sailors for the Sea not only for green regattas, but also for a green boater pledge competition between other yacht clubs in Chicago. More information found on our website: https://sites.google.com/drakedata.io/colyc-conservationcommittee/partnerships?authuser=0
8. Post Educational and Reusable Signage
COLYC had electric signs promoting the regatta and had signage posted throughout the regatta party on our sustainable efforts and promoting the green boater pledge.
9. Serve Local Food or Source Seafood Sustainably
COLYC works with local venders to locally source as many food offerings as we can. Here is a list of our current local venders: Nichols Farms, Mick Klug Farms, Werp Farms, Shawn Michelle Ice Cream, Heaven's Honey, Agave Straw Co, Verterra Fallen Leaf Products, GFS Compostable Cups, Fortune Gourmet, Wabash Seafood, Midwest Produce, Plantswitch
10. Organize a Green Team
At COLYC, the Conservation Committee is our designated team that promotes conservation on our waters and organizes volunteer events.
13. Use Paperless Event Management
COLYC uses our website, CASRA's website, and ClubSpot online platform to post all Notice of Race (NOR), sailing instructions, registration, and results. We do not print out any of the details to give to captions, but we instead encourage them to use their phone/tablet to access the information.
15. Prevent Toxins from Entering the Water
COLYC promotes the proper disposal of oil as we have a designated oil drop-off canaster on our dock for racers to use as needed. We also follow all federal and state laws to make sure that no toxins leak out into Lake Michigan. We also share additional details on our website: https://sites.google.com/drakedata.io/colyc-conservationcommittee/green-boater-tips?authuser=0
16. Increase Awareness of Wildlife and Habitat Protection
COLYC Conservation Committee currently has Wildlife and Habitat information on their website, but we are in the process of working with the Shedd Aquarium to provide stronger promotion at our regattas. Website: https://sites.google.com/drakedata.io/colyc-conservationcommittee/wildlife-habitat?authuser=0
17. Offer Vegetarian or Vegan Alternatives
COLYC offered vegetarian options, such as salads and different sea food options, for all regatta parties throughout the season.
18. Promote Alternative Transportation
COLYC promotes alternative transpiration with outdoor and indoor bike rakes, Divvy bike station close by, and use of CTA trains and buses. Car pooling is always encouraged to the regattas if sailors are driving.
19. Reduce Day-of Emissions
COLYC is strategic with using only one boat for race committee per race and have them turn off their engine when the line is set, being conscious of our emission footprint.
20. Inspire Future Action
COLYC continues to promote green boater practice throughout the community by hosting several certified Clean Regattas, partnering up with Alliance for the Great Lakes for harbor cleanups, and growing our Conservation Committee within the club. We look forward in improving our clean regattas and hope to receive certified platinum status for our regattas.
