Event Details | |
| Host | Yacht Club Costa Smeralda |
| Location | Porto Cervo Marina, Italy |
| Certification Level | Platinum |
| Website Link | https://www.yccs.it/ |
Best Practices Achieved
1. Eliminate Single-Use Water Bottles and Provide Water Refill Stations
Reusable water bottles were provided to the staff and teams involved in the event. A drinking water fountain is permanently available outside the YCCS provided by YCCSA in collaboration with Garmin Marine Italy (a YCCS technical partner) and all the competitors and teams working for the event are informed about that
2. Eliminate Plastic Straws
Plastic straws were not used or distributed during the event, they are not more available at the YCCS. Drinks were served in paper cups.
3. Serve Food with Plastic-Free Dinnerware
During the after-race refreshments, food and drinks were served using lower-impact disposable tableware, including biodegradable cellulose pulp plates, paper cups and wooden cutlery, avoiding conventional single-use plastic items.
For the social events, reusable tableware was used, including ceramic plates, glassware and metal cutlery, further reducing the use of disposable materials.
4. Skip Bags or Go Reusable
Reusable bags were used to packed lunches offered by the YCCS to the teams working in the event.
Food items were packed in paper bags or reusable plastic containers, reducing the use of single-use plastic packaging
5. Award Practical Items or Use a Perpetual or Upcycled Trophy
A perpetual trophy was awarded to the winners, other trophy consisted in valuable items
6. Publicize Your Sustainability Efforts
YCCS official website features a ‘Sustainability’ section which explains YCCS’s commitment to sustainability and include the Charta Smeralda, the code of ethics.
During the event, the Charta Smeralda, the 4R (a content promoted in accordance with the local organisation) and the Sustainability efforts made by YCCS were shown on the ledwall in the regatta village.
Point 1.8 of the Notice of Race also refers to sustainability, urging participants to respect the environment and to practise the sport of sailing whilst minimising its impact
7. Involve Local Organizations
The 4R principles of sustainability is a content promoted in accordance with the Municipality of Arzachena
8. Post Educational and Reusable Signage
Bins and information on how to differentiate have been placed in the media room and media centre, each with a sign clearly indicating what type of waste should be put in them.
Next to the drinking water fountain is a noticeboard displaying statistics that prompt reflection on sustainability: the average number of litres of water consumed per day in Europe, the average daily consumption in Italy, the tonnes of plastic that end up in the Mediterranean Sea every year, and the number of animal species affected by pollution.
9. Serve Local Food or Source Seafood Sustainably
Local dishes such as meatballs and locally grown vegetables were served at the post-race refreshments.
10. Organize a Green Team
The Green Team was composed of two staff members who helped coordinate and document the Clean Regattas actions during the event.
11. Ensure Proper Waste Bin Placement and Signage
As per above, all the bins are accompanied by information signs, as shown in the attached photos
12. Divert Food Waste from the Landfill
Food service for the after-race refreshments was planned with moderate portions in order to avoid overproduction and reduce excessive leftovers. Waste-sorting bins were available with information on how to differentiate things, helping participants, staff and visitors separate waste correctly. Separate waste collection is required by law in Italy, so waste must always be sorted before disposal and put into the bind provided by local organisations. All the materials used at the post-race refreshments have been designed to be disposed of together as organic waste, whereas at social events held on the premises, ceramic plates, metal cutlery and paper napkins are used, meaning no waste is pro
13. Use Paperless Event Management
The event has been paperless, official event documents were published on the website, in the section dedicated to the regatta. In the regatta document was specified that the event was paperless.
15. Prevent Toxins from Entering the Water
Notice of Race of the event includes a specific section on environmental responsibility, reminding participants of the Basic Principle that encourages them to minimise any adverse environmental impact of the sport of sailing. It also draws attention to RRS 47 – Trash Disposal, which prohibits competitors and support persons from intentionally putting trash in the water.
16. Increase Awareness of Wildlife and Habitat Protection
Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions sof the event state that the regatta is organised following the principles of the Charta Smeralda, an ethical code established by One Ocean Foundation. The documents also highlight that raising awareness among regatta participants on the urgent environmental issues affecting the oceans is part of the event’s mission.
By including this statement in the official event documents, the regatta helps promote awareness of the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, habitats and wildlife.
17. Offer Vegetarian or Vegan Alternatives
Vegetarian and vegan options were available during the post-race refreshments, in the pic an example of a dish composed of mixed local vegetables
18. Promote Alternative Transportation
Transfer services were provided during the event by the YCCS Institutional Partner Range Rover. The transfers are available to owners, crews, media guest and staff working at the event
19. Reduce Day-of Emissions
During the event we used an eletric self-positioning mark. The marks mantains its position through GPS tchnology, without the need to be anchored to the seabed.
20. Inspire Future Action
The official event documents state that the regatta is organised following the principles of the Charta Smeralda, an ethical code established by One Ocean Foundation, and that part of the event’s mission is to raise awareness among participants on the urgent environmental issues affecting the oceans.
In addition, these principles were promoted on the LED wall in Piazza Azzurra during the event, helping to reinforce the message among owners, crews, guests and visitors. This visibility is intended to inspire more responsible behaviours during the regatta and encourage participants to carry this awareness into future sailing activities.
