Students championing sustainability in sailing were celebrated this weekend at the British University Sailing Association (BUSA) Team Racing Nationals when the winners of the RYA Green Blue University Sailing Sustainability Challenge 2026 were announced.
Sponsored by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the challenge shines a spotlight on university sailing clubs across the UK that are taking meaningful action to protect the environment. From beach cleans and equipment reuse to waste reduction and community outreach; the initiative highlights best practices that can be adopted by sailors and clubs nationwide.
Now approaching its tenth year, the challenge introduced updated judging criteria for 2026, focusing on eight key sustainability areas. These included water quality, biodiversity protection, youth outreach, advocacy, and the environmental impact of events.
Winners of the 2026 challenge
University of Bristol Sailing Club (UBSC) were crowned overall winners, recognised for a wide range of innovative initiatives. These included extending the lifespan of boats through maintenance, donating sails to a local school, hosting a creative ‘sober social’ where members repurposed old sails, and delivering a sustainability-focused BUSA event. As part of their prize, UBSC will receive a visit from a member of the British Sailing Team.
Emma Ramm, UBSC student said: “We’ve loved being part of the challenge this year- it’s been a real opportunity to get as many people involved in sustainable initiatives as possible. We’ve now introduced a new committee role at the end of the year specifically for sustainability, to ensure our environmental actions continue into future generations of our society – and there is still lots to be done! As a sport, sailing has a surprisingly large impact on the environment, and the USSC has allowed us to identify the areas where we can make the most changes, setting up practices that are going to last.”
Effective and lasting change
Second place was awarded to Exeter University Sailing Club. Students introduced a QR code reporting system to help track and repair damage, improving the longevity of club equipment. The club also conducted energy audits at its training venues Starcross Yacht Club and Roadford Lake Activity Centre, enabling both sites to share best practice. Exeter receives a £400 voucher towards an RYA Dinghy Instructor course, supporting the development of future sailors.
Millie Lewis of Exeter University said: “When describing this challenge, I often say the reason it works so well is because it provides an accessible structure to support university clubs in reaching their sustainability goals. This enables effective and lasting change.”
Cambridge Cruising Club and Sheffield University Sailing Club were awarded joint third place, each receiving a Clean Sea Bundle of environmental cleaning products.
Cambridge Cruising Club were recognised for strong engagement with the local sailing community, including organising a litter pick and recycling initiative at Grafham Water and hosting a sustainability webinar focused on biodiversity and climate change.
Meanwhile Sheffield University Sailing Club impressed judges with upcycling workshops transforming old sails into items such as jackets and bags, alongside a social media campaign promoting the ‘Clean, Check, Dry’ process to help protect biodiversity.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have finished joint third in this year’s University Sailing Sustainability Challenge, alongside Cambridge Cruising Club,” said Phillip Crossland from Sheffield University. “Sustainability is something we care deeply about as a club, and this award only motivates us to go further.”
Alice Lucy, RYA Environmental Programme Officer said: “It’s been a pleasure and incredibly inspiring to witness the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment shown by every university team. The actions taken may seem small individually, but together they represent meaningful progress towards protecting the waters we all depend on. What the students have achieved over the past few months is remarkable, and they should all feel incredibly proud”.
Along with the winners, clubs participating in the 2026 challenge included:
Edinburgh University Sailing Club
Durham University Sailing Club
University of Bath Sailing Club
Warwick University Sailing Club
University of Plymouth Yacht Club
Glasgow University Sailing Club
Queen’s University Belfast Sailing Club
Plymouth University Sailing Club
University of the West of England Sailing Club
University of Liverpool Sailing and Windsurfing Club
Bangor University Sailing Club
Dundee University Sailing Club
University of East Anglia Sailing Club
Aberdeen University Sailing Club
