Sailing clubs and schools in Portugal, such as Clube Naval de Cascais combine sports training with maritime culture and environmental awareness, particularly in youth and community programmes. The objectives involve the promotion of ocean literacy, climate awareness and environmentally responsible behaviour through sailing education, emphasizing wind-powered navigation as a low-carbon form of mobility.
Sustainability concepts are integrated into sailing lessons, including weather systems, wind patterns, coastal dynamics, and best practices in marinas. Regattas increasingly adopt clean-event principles, such as waste reduction and plastic-free policies.
The practice highlights renewable energy use (wind), reduced emissions, protection of marine habitats, and responsible use of coastal infrastructure.
Key learning objectives:
Participants develop sailing skills alongside an understanding of climate systems, marine ecosystems, ocean literacy, and the importance of preserving clean seas for future navigation.
Importance of water sport:
Sustainability is embedded in sailing lessons through weather systems education, marina best practices and clean regattas. The main impact is the improved environmental awareness and reduced ecological footprint of sailing activities.
This good practice contributes to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: by integrating sustainability, ocean literacy and environmental responsibility into water-sport learning contexts.
- SDG 13 – Climate Action: by promoting awareness of climate impacts and encouraging low‑carbon, nature‑based sporting practices.
- SDG 14 – Life Below Water: by fostering respect for marine ecosystems and supporting their protection through responsible sport practices.
Target Groups/Clients:
Sailing clubs, coaches, youth sailors, municipalities, port authorities and local communities.
Good practices:
This practice is easily transferable to other sailing schools, coastal regions and inland sailing centres across Europe. Many of them already develop similar practices.
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