Wavysail named 2024 Global Champion for Sustainable & Inclusive sailing

Wavysail, are excited to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious title of Global Sailing Sustainability & Inclusivity Champion 2024 by LUXlife Marine Tourism Awards. This recognition reflects Wavysail’s ongoing commitment to making the ocean accessible while championing sustainability. At the heart of this achievement is Wavysail’s ground-breaking initiative, the Open Oceans Fund.

Launched in 2023, the Open Oceans Fund was established to encourage more people to participate in coastal and off-shore sailing adventures. The initiative offers fully funded places to those who otherwise wouldn’t have the financial means or the confidence to join a sailing expedition. This fund is facilitated by partners who “sponsor” places, covering up to 50% of the cost of a space while Wavysail covers the balance. Gill is a proud Wavysail Open Oceans fund partner, having sponsored places on all the 2024 Scottish adventures. The Open Oceans Scotland programme has enabled four young people from difficult backgrounds to join Wavysail Adventures.

“At Gill, we believe that real progress in the marine world comes through collaboration and a deep commitment to inclusivity,” said Matt Clark, Product Development Director at Gill. 

 “Partnering with Wavysail and the Open Oceans Fund is an incredible opportunity to welcome new faces to the sailing world while championing sustainability. Inclusive sailing means everyone gets a chance to experience the magic of the ocean, and together with Wavysail, we’re making this vision a reality. We couldn’t be prouder to congratulate Wavysail on this well-deserved recognition!”

Open Oceans also works with Charities such as The Ahoy Centre, a London-based charity dedicated to providing sailing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their partnership with Wavysail perfectly aligns with a shared mission of creating life-changing experiences through sailing with a collaboration that goes beyond funding trips - it is about offering opportunities that transform lives. A prime example is the journey of Amber and Alfie, who learned to sail on the Thames with the Ahoy Centre and then had the opportunity to join a five-thousand-mile, epic Wavysail expedition from Cape Town to St Helena Island and back. Alfie is now hoping to pursue a professional sailor career, highlighting the life-changing potential of Open Oceans.  

Andrew Cowen, CEO of Wavysail, explains, “When we started Wavysail, we wanted to stand for inclusive and sustainable ocean adventure. Open Oceans is an excellent example of us encouraging more people to enjoy the joys of offshore sailing through carefully selected partnerships with brands and companies that share our values and vision.

This LUXlife award highlights Wavysail’s dedication to transforming marine tourism through environmental responsibility and inclusivity. The Open Oceans Fund showcases the positive impact that partnerships bring. Looking ahead, Wavysail is welcoming new partners to join them in making the ocean accessible to all and protecting it for future generations.

For information on sponsoring and supporting the Open Oceans fund, please get in touch with us at [email protected] and help us continue to bring the incredible life benefits of adventure sailing to new people.