Meet the only sport in the world awarding competitors for sustainability
SailGP, in which 50-foot catamarans race at more than 60 mph in seas and bays around the world, is a grand prix sport comparable to Formula 1 but on water.
SailGP, in which 50-foot catamarans race at more than 60 mph in seas and bays around the world, is a grand prix sport comparable to Formula 1 but on water. One big difference: It is seeking to make a positive impact on issues of sustainability.
In addition to vying to be the fastest, teams also compete to have the biggest impact on the league and in host cities. An entirely different scoreboard, called the Impact League, measures teams' impact on things such as sustainability, commitment and strategy; their use of new technologies and innovation; their promotion of clean energy; and their ability to avoid waste and single-use plastic.
The champion for this season on positive impact is the Emirates Great Britain team, the league shared first with NBC News.
The team partnered with a bespoke renewable energy provider to incorporate solar panels on its team base that not only powers its base, but a number of other nation’s team bases.
“I’d be lying if I said that it doesn’t get just as competitive as it is on the water,” said Ben Ainslie, CEO of Emirates Great Britain SailGP team. “But at the same time we also get points for collaboration. And of course that’s the right thing to do when you’re looking at tackling issues around climate change. … Collaboration is key.”
Rating: 5