Yachting Malta has launched a three-year Sustainability Plan aimed at making the local yachting sector more environmentally friendly. The launch took place in the presence of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Dr Ian Borg and the Minister for Finance and Financial Services Prof. Edward Scicluna.
At the same event, Minister Borg and Yachting Malta Chairman John Huber inaugurated a new boat park for dinghy sailors at the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club.
The plan and its guidelines were developed with the assistance of 11th Hour Racing, an international organisation working with the sailing community and maritime industries to protect and restore the health of the oceans. Measures include eliminating single-use plastic during yachting activities, using less paper, promotional material that is useful and made from recycled materials, signage made of sustainable materials, and no balloons or plastic confetti at events.
The first initiatives are already in place: water reverse osmosis plants have been installed in every local sailing club, and reusable water bottles have been distributed to sailors so that single-use plastic bottles are no longer needed during training and competition.
“Using these reverse osmosis plants and bottles in the Euromed Regatta, which sees over 150 sailors taking part, we managed to save over 1,000 bottles from being disposed of incorrectly over a two-day event. That example led us to believe that we should develop the concept over a longer period and with all events that we are connected with,” explained John Huber, Chairman of Yachting Malta.
“The health of our seas is a priority, and I am satisfied that Yachting Malta is taking the initiative to catalyse a positive change towards more sustainability,” said Minister Ian Borg, who encouraged everyone operating close to the sea to make similar changes. Minister Edward Scicluna highlighted the economic importance of the yachting industry and praised the sailing clubs for creating environmental awareness among the children and youths they coach.
Yachting Malta also announced three Sustainability Ambassadors who will help promote the guidelines: Olympic swimmer, long-distance swimmer and environmental activist Neil Agius, Olympic sailor Mario Aquilina, and Maya Podesta, skipper of Elusive 2, winner of the 2019 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Going forward, Yachting Malta will only consider requests for assistance from events that follow the guidelines.
Photo Credit: Yachting Malta
