Sustainability and the ORCV

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is a dedicated team of sailors and administrators who bring the mission of Sustainability to life. Sustainability is in the ORCV Constitution, our Vision, our Mission, and our Values both on and off the water.

To all who love the environment, particularly our oceans: Save the sea, protect your passion, and make an impact is the message from all of us at the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.

We are an innovative sailing organisation that cares about the health of our planet and have always been interested in ways that can have an impact that scales, something that can change behavior and the value we put on our natural environment. We ask;

• What if we could get everyone to pledge not to use plastics on their boats?
• What if we could get every yacht club to recycle correctly?
• What if we could support those organisations undertaking prevention, advocacy, recycling, and education?

And what if we could spread our love for the ocean with the people closest to us who do not sail? Behind every ORCV race, a dedicated team is paying attention to essential details of keeping plastics out of the oceans.

Change only happens when organisations like ORCV get together and take action for an initiative we care about.

Five Starting Tips That Contribute to Running a More Sustainable Boat

To all who love the environment and our oceans: "Save the ocean, protect your passion, and make an impact" is the message from all of us at the ORCV.

Behind every ORCV race is a dedicated clean oceans team paying attention to essential details of keeping plastics out of the oceans. During the recent Apollo Bay Race, the ORCV team organised a fundraising activity to raise awareness of how, as a community, we all can make changes to keep plastics out of the ocean. The Club has long been interested in ocean conservation, so it was a natural fit.

Change only happens when people like us get together and act for an initiative we care about. Here are five starting tips that can contribute to running a more sustainable boat:

1. Use reusable water bottles over plastic bottles
2. Take food in reusable containers or use reusable silicone Ziplock bags (if food needs heating or re-heating)
3. Use the boat's cutlery/plates over disposable ones
4. Consider what food you take on board
5. Recycle post-race

Recognising ORCV's 'Keep plastics out of the ocean' efforts in the last Melbourne to Apollo Bay Ocean Race, the global organisation Sailors for Sea awarded a Gold Certification for the sustainability of an event to the ORCV - the only Australian entity to receive a Gold Certificate in 2019.

Sailors for Sea organisation, Co-founded by David Rockefeller Jr. and Dr. David Treadway in 2004, is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, and works to engage the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. Through its Clean Regattas, Ocean Watch programs, and Green Boating Guide, the organisation successfully motivates boaters to become environmental stewards.