Australia SailGP Team and Parley for the Oceans join forces to inspire the next generation of ocean guardians at Parley Ocean School

Sydney, AUSTRALIA - December 11, 2021 - With seven events completed and the championship standings tightening, the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in Sydney presented by KPMG marks the continuation of SailGP’s Race for the Future – using its platform for purpose to break boundaries in sustainable sport and champion a world powered by nature.

Ahead of the event, taking place December 17-18, the Australia SailGP Team led one of SailGP’s local impact projects – aimed at delivering a positive social and environmental impact – with Parley for the Oceans, the team’s official purpose partner

With a shared focus and passion for safeguarding the ocean against the threat of plastic pollution, the Australia team and Parley joined forces to educate and empower the next generation of young Australians by hosting a Parley Ocean School – a unique program that blends ocean awareness, immersion and activism.

The event took place at Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney with forty youth sailors and Australia SailGP Team athletes, Kyle Langford, Nina Curtis, Jason Waterhouse and Sam Newton.

Australia SailGP Team athlete Nina Curtis said: “We have a responsibility as professional athletes to use our voice to bring awareness to some of the biggest threats that are facing our ocean, and inspire the next generation to be a part of the solution.”

Australia SailGP Team Flight Controller, Jason Waterhouse said: “It means a lot for us to host the Parley Ocean School with the next generation of Australian sailors and ocean advocates. Even if we have inspired just one of these youth sailors to take an interest in protecting our oceans and make changes to their everyday lives, then we have done our job.”

The program included a talk by renowned ocean photographer Christian Miller on his work with Parley, and its approach led by collaboration, eco-innovation and the Parley AIR Strategy: Avoid, Intercept, Redesign. The youth sailors were given the opportunity to see firsthand how prevalent microplastics are along Australian shorelines and beaches, and Precious Plastic hosted a demonstration with their innovative shredder machine – which transformed intercepted plastic into carabiners to be used by the sailors. The Australia team also hosted a panel sharing how they personally, and as a team, are making changes to reduce their impact on the planet and the important role sport has in driving awareness.

CEO and Founder of Parley for the Oceans Cyrill Gutsch said: “SailGP has lived up to its promise of taking big, bold steps towards championing a world powered by nature. Through this partnership, we’re excited to bring some of the biggest threats facing our oceans to a global audience while also demonstrating the role we can play in being a part of the solution. Sport has the power to create change – and with partners like SailGP Australia, we can turn the ocean cause into a truly global movement. We see them as not just a supporter of Parley, but a true collaborator and changemaker.”

SailGP returns to the iconic Sydney Harbour on December 17 and 18, 2021. After Sydney, the league will head to San Francisco, which will host the Grand Final on March 26-27, where the champion of Season 2 will be determined in a single USD $1 million winner-takes-all final.

SailGP is the first climate positive sports and entertainment property and races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. In every city it races, SailGP looks to deliver impact. This was the first of a number of events and initiatives that are taking place at the Australia Sail Grand Prix to help inspire change as part of SailGP’s drive toward a better sport and a better planet.

Tickets for fan experiences at the Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney are on sale, and selling fast. To find out more and secure your tickets, visit SailGP.com/Sydney.