Teaming up to support practical and sustainable initiatives

Organisers of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, Cowes Week Limited, have teamed up with The Green Blue – the joint environment initiative of the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine Federation and Sunsail to further develop the number of green initiatives already in place at the regatta.

Sunsail has worked in partnership with The Green Blue for over five years, leading the way to make environmental improvements to its fleet and operations in Port Solent; Sunsail's experience and support of sustainable boating has been a driving force for this year's environmental initiatives at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week which are simple but impactful.

The Green Blue will be on standby during registration in the Regatta Centre to give plenty of practical advice on sustainable boating, as well as having a selection of free environmental products such as bilge socks, fuel collars and boat wash available for sailors to take away and try on board.

Recyclable bow stickers will once again be provided. The Green Blue are advising that the trick is to apply the stickers to a well-prepared surface so they stay firmly in place for the week until they are ready to be peeled off and recycled. If in doubt, a member of the branding team can provide a helping hand with application.

Saturday 2nd August has been designated 'Green Blue Day' to encourage people to think a little more sustainably during the Week. First run by Sunsail during the 2013 regatta with their fleet of Sunsail Match First 40 yachts, Green Blue Day provides a great awareness-raising platform and an opportunity for everyone to do their bit to minimise the impact of boating on the environment.

With some great prizes on offer, competitors are also being challenged to take a green snap and submit it via Twitter or Instagram using #GoGreenBlue. Incredible Hulk, Ninja Turtle or Green Lantern fancy dress, retrieving marine litter, green cocktails or recycling on board - if it's green, anything goes! The prizes are well worth winning too and include a luxury ski holiday in Canada and tickets to the FA Cup Final in 2015 courtesy of Sunsail's partners, Crystal Ski Holidays and Sportsworld a specialist hospitality, travel and event services company accredited to ISO 20121.

The final green initiative being asked of competitors and visitors is to bring a reusable water bottle to the regatta. For those who don't have one, have forgotten it, or would like a new one, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week branded sports bottles will be available for sale during the week at just £2, with a proportion of all sales being donated to UKSA, the regatta's Official Charity. Free water stations will be available at Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepards Wharf Marina for refills throughout the week, thanks to support from Sunsail.

Commenting on the practical steps taken to improve sustainability at this year's regatta, Jane Swan, Project Manager at The Green Blue, said: "It's fantastic to see Cowes Week Limited encouraging everyone to go green at this year's regatta. The Solent is a unique backdrop to this amazing event and the perfect platform to raise awareness of how easy sustainable boating can be and how important it is to keep the sailing waters around us in great shape."