Eco Friendly Sailing Tips

The secret is in the so-called three R's of eco-friendly sailing - reduce, reuse and recycle. Let's take a closer look at some tips and techniques that can help you be more sustainable and evaluate your impact.

Reduce

First of all, it's essential to reduce your speed and navigate carefully, especially when sailing around sensitive areas rich in marine life. It's crucial not to disturb the natural habitat and to ensure we are aware of any marine protected areas we are sailing in.

Second, reduce your sewage. Putting paper and other items down the head is definitely not a good idea. Also, if you have a holding tank installed, go ahead and use it. Just remember to check the discharge legislation and empty the holding tank at least 3 miles from shore.

Furthermore, it's important to reduce pollution. This can be done by avoiding products with bleach or other strong chemicals. Using environmentally friendly products is also beneficial for your health. Another thing you can do is ensure the engine is well-maintained and not leaking fuel or oil. We recommend using a drip tray to prevent leakage. Last but not least, be careful when refuelling; we don't want to accidentally spill fuel into the water.

Lastly, reduce your impact by anchoring with care. This relates to what we mentioned by lowering the speed. Ensuring that vulnerable species are not disturbed is a priority. If there are secure mooring balls available, use them instead.

Reuse

The next step to eco-friendly sailing is reusing. This is something many people do even in their daily lives, so it's not hard to apply. Get some reusable bottles for drinks and other sustainable eating utensils. Reuse products as much as possible and forget about plastic. Especially plastic bags, since there are many great alternatives made from recycled materials, such as those made from sails.

It's essential to minimize the amount of waste you make. This can be done quickly by removing the packaging of items you don't need and recycling it before you board. You can also recycle on your boat; however, if you don't have much space, it may be more challenging. Even if that is the case, small items can still be recycled, and things like cigarette butts should not be thrown overboard but kept until you can dispose of them correctly onshore.

These last two are very simple, and we are confident that you are already doing them, but it's still worth mentioning. First, make sure you prevent rubbish from being blown overboard by the wind and never dump waste at sea.

Recycle

In case you can't get rid of all non-reusable items, make sure you store them on board and dispose of them at a recycling centre when you can. The turtles will be very grateful. Unfortunately, not all sailing destinations offer the same recycling options. Some countries have highly developed facilities, while others are still developing theirs. If you want to go green and become an eco-friendly sailor, you can always research your list of destinations to see which ones offer this sustainability factor you are looking for.

The one we suggest is the top 5 sailing destinations for beginners!

Well, what do you think? Isn't it easy to be an eco-friendly sailor? Sailing is fantastic for many reasons, and the ability to harness the forces of nature and take advantage of wind, solar, and hydropower is one of the things that make it absolutely fantastic.

Do you have any tips to keep sailing eco-friendly? Please share your suggestions and ideas on our Tubber, and our experts are always here to help you choose the best destination for you with your way of sailing in mind!