

Courtesy of Sailors for the Sea
Special delivery: Sign up for the free Cruising World email newsletter. Subscribe of Cruising World magazine for $29 for 1 year and receive 3 bonus digital issues.
Nearly 20 years ago, the Pew Oceans Commission, of which I am a member, released a report about the state of our oceans, and it was not pretty. Overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction threaten the oceans. When the commission ended, I knew one thing, as a sailor, I had to help. One of the biggest issues I see is that some sailors and boaters – an incredibly talented and civic-minded group – have not been active for the oceans we love.
A year later, in 2004, I founded Sailors for the Sea with my friend, Dr. David Treadway, another enthusiastic sailor. There were 2.5 million self-identified sailors in the United States at the time. We don’t know how our community will respond. Some of my friends think I’m crazy – “David,” they say to me “sailors want to go to the party after the regatta, not a rally for the ocean.”
However, we went ahead and set a goal to recruit one percent, or 25,000 sailors, to join the movement to help save the oceans. We succeeded in getting attention and created some very important programs including Clean Regattas and Rainy Day Kits (now called KELP, or Kids Environmental Lesson Plans). However, we haven’t made much progress in hitting our 25,000 number.

Courtesy of Sailors for the Sea
Fortunately, we kept at it, eventually joining Oceana (one of the largest ocean conservation organizations on the planet), and over the last four years, something clicked. Much of this is due to the hard work of our team and Oceana, but I think credit should also go to the new generation of sailors coming into the game. They want to be ocean activists and now they are looking for us. The sailing community seems to be about to become a real force in saving the oceans. I am so glad that Sailors for the Sea exists to serve them, our community, and the ocean.
Today, we have surpassed our first goal. In the past year alone, we’ve grown an incredible 90% and now count over 40,000 members—our community of Green Boaters who are constantly speaking up for our oceans and following our Green Boating best practices. This is a big win for our oceans. In 2021 alone, more than 47,000 sailors participated in a Clean Regatta—potentially preventing 675,000 single-use plastic water bottles from waterways and waste—and 768 organizations, programs to sail, and families use our KELP activities to teach children about the sea. science and environmental issues. We now have 16 Skippers, volunteer activists focused on organizing their local marinas, clubs, and communities.
While there have been many gains in the past two decades, the ocean needs our help now more than ever. Many of the problems we uncovered in the Pew Oceans Commission report still exist – coastal development, invasive species, overfishing, and of course climate change are all taking their toll. Finding and implementing solutions requires vigilance, dedication, and commitment. But worth it.
As mariners, we know that life on land and in the ocean are inseparable, and the quality of our lives—from the food we eat to the air we breathe—depends on healthy, thriving, and biodiverse oceans. The good news is that we can achieve it.

Courtesy of Sailors for the Sea
What are some things you can do? First and foremost, be an ocean advocate. Support the people and the policies that make real, positive change for our oceans. If you are a sailor or someone who cares about the ocean, you can sign up to become a Sailor for the Sea “Green Boater”. The more this community grows, the more impact we can have. Are you involved in any kind of event planning? While our Clean Regattas sustainability initiatives are focused on water-based events, many of the best practices can be implemented at any event. Have children in your life? Check out our Kids Environmental Lesson Plans. It’s never too early to develop a love for the environment and promote ocean literacy.
The health of our oceans depends on all of us, and the actions we take today to protect them will help ensure a better future for everyone.
For the ocean, David Rockefeller, Jr.
The Founder, Sailors for the Sea