Alongside the fast-and-furious racing schedule, SailGP operates a year-round purpose-led calendar of sustainable projects in collaboration with each venue on the Season 3 tour. From protecting Bermuda’s endangered seagrass to funding solar panel installation in Plymouth, we round up Season 3’s Impact Projects so far.
Bermuda’s seagrass project
SailGP kicked off Season 3 by renewing its support and partnership with The Bermuda Seagrass Project. Managed by the Bermuda Government and Climate Wise, the project seeks to restore Bermuda’s seagrass and marine environment, which has become critically endangered through overgrazing by turtles. So far, the project has installed protective cages covering almost 2,000sqm in 22 locations around the island.
Chicago’s river project
As part of its first ever visit to Chicago, SailGP joined together with Friends of the Chicago River to support the Instream Habitat Restoration Project. The project aims to restore the native plant communities once abundant in the river, which provide habitats for small mammals and improve the water quality. The league expanded the instream planting program through the planting of 5,000 plants along a two-mile stretch of river.
Plymouth’s solar panel installation
In Plymouth, SailGP teamed up with the Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Energy Community to fund the installation of 100 solar panels onto four local community buildings. The project supported the league’s ambition to be entirely powered by clean energy by 2025 and means those community groups will benefit from reduced energy bills and lower carbon emissions.
Copenhagen’s fishing nursery project
As part of the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix in August, SailGP donated 25 fishing nurseries to the city of Copenhagen. Known as ‘biohuts’, these nurseries offer a place for young and vulnerable fish to feed and hide from predators. Copenhagen already hosts more fishing nurseries than any other city in the world and since they were first introduced, several different fish species have been spotted. SailGP’s donation raised the total number of sea nurseries in Copenhagen to 125, helping to protect native fish populations in the most vulnerable part of their development.
Saint-Tropez’s floating reef project
In France, SailGP partnered with the Marseille-based Pure Ocean Foundation on the development of a floating reef project. The project is currently developing a floating reef using biomimetic, eco-designed and sustainable subsurface buoys inspired by sea sponges. These buoys will provide areas for local species to find refuge and are attached to the seabed via an ecological anchor, which avoids damage to the seagrass below.
Cádiz’s project to help migratory birds
In Spain, SailGP teamed up with the University of Cádiz and Bay of Cádiz’s Natural Park to support a project protecting threatened migratory seabirds. The project focused specifically on the Kentish Plover and Common Tern, which nest in the dunes and areas above the high tide line. SailGP funded the fencing-off of nesting and breeding areas and the regulation of tourist actives, as well as the ongoing monitoring of populations.
Dubai’s Little Sun project
In Dubai, SailGP teamed up with Little Sun to provide an off-grid boarding school in Tanzania with solar energy infrastructure. The league pledged to install and maintain a 2-3kw solar system that will power the main school buildings, powering lights and solar-energy compliant equipment such as copy machines, projectors and computers. It is hoped the project will help increase study and preparation time for students and improve teaching quality and academic performance.
