Green Boating Habits

 

Green Boating Habits

Routines That Cut Waste at the Club – and on Safety Duty

Sailing is often described as one of the greenest sports around. Wind for propulsion, human power for trimming, and (usually) very little fuel burned. But scratch the surface at any sailing club and there’s still plenty of scope to do better—especially on safety boat duty, where good intentions can easily drift into unnecessary waste.

Over the years on the River Thames, I’ve noticed that small routines, repeated quietly every week, make a surprisingly big difference.

---

🚤 1. Think Before You Start the Engine

Safety boats don’t need to be idling constantly “just in case”.

Good habits:

• Engine off when stationary near the bank

• Drift or paddle when waiting for a race sequence

• Use short, purposeful bursts of power rather than constant throttle

Not only does this reduce emissions, it also cuts noise, improves communication, and disturbs less wildlife along the riverbank.

---

🔋 2. Charge Smarter, Not Harder

Electric safety and camera boats are becoming more common—and for good reason.

Better routines:

• Charge batteries during off-peak or solar hours

• Avoid topping up unnecessarily (partial cycles extend battery life)

• Keep a simple charging log so batteries aren’t over-cycled

The greenest electricity is the electricity you didn’t waste in the first place.

---

🗑️ 3. Make Waste Someone’s Job (Then Everyone’s)

Rubbish doesn’t magically sort itself at the end of a race day.

Simple systems work best:

• A clearly labelled recycling box on safety boats

• Separate bin for gloves, tape, cable ties, and broken bungs

• One named person responsible for emptying bins at the end of duty

When responsibility is vague, waste builds up fast.

---

🧤 4. Reuse Beats Replace

Safety boats are notorious for “single-use thinking”.

Try this instead:

• Rinse and dry gloves rather than binning them

• Keep a small box for reusable cable ties and shackles

• Repair kill-cord clips and painter lines rather than replacing by default

If it still works safely, it still works.

---

🦆 5. Wildlife Is Not an Obstacle

River sailing brings us close to nature—sometimes uncomfortably close.

Green habits include:

• Slowing early near swans, geese, and cygnets

• Avoiding repeated wash near nesting areas

• Pausing races or patrols briefly rather than forcing wildlife to scatter

Protecting the river protects the sport.

---

🧭 6. Leave the Club Better Than You Found It

One of the quiet joys of safety duty is noticing things others miss.

Before heading home:

• Pick up one extra piece of litter

• Coil one abandoned rope

• Report leaks, fuel smells, or unsafe waste storage

Multiply that by 52 weeks and the impact is enormous.

---

🌍 Small Routines, Big Difference

Green boating isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about habits that become automatic:

• Engine off

• Waste sorted

• Equipment respected

• River protected

Sailing clubs are communities. When good routines become normal, they spread—without a single lecture.