The Green Blue invites Cowes to put a sock in it! 

The Green Blue is helping Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week make boating more sustainable.

For the first time The Green Blue is helping boats at this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Regatta to make their boating experience more sustainable.  

As part of The Green Blue’s goal to reduce pollution on the water, each boat has been provided with environmentally-friendly products including a bottle of phosphate-free washing up liquid and for all boats in Black Group classes, a bilge sock.  

For The Green Blue, the joint environment project of the RYA and BMF, minimising pollution is an important target area and thanks to funding from the Environment Agency the project has been able to provide advice and products for the Regatta and local stakeholders to raise environmental awareness and make an immediate difference.  

Phosphates in cleaning products can cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion which in turn can suffocate aquatic life so it makes sense to use phosphate free products on board.   

Bilge socks are an inexpensive and simple way to prevent oil and fuel pollution. The sock sits in the bilge to absorb hydrocarbons which otherwise would be pumped out with the bilge water.   The Green Blue has also provided fuel collars to Cowes Harbour Commission and Yarmouth Harbour for use on their fuel pontoons.

The collars sit around the fuel nozzles and catch drips and blowback when boats are being refuelled, preventing spills into the water.  

Jane Swan, The Green Blue Project Manager said: “We are delighted to be working with Cowes Week for the very first time. Their support for sustainable boating, along with Aberdeen Asset Management’s commitment to the environment, has opened the way for us to make a difference to one of the largest and oldest regattas in the world.

"A great example is the recyclable bow stickers provided by AAM, with both the sticker and backing fully recyclable at the end of the week.”  

Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited added: “We try and do our bit where we can to make the regatta as sustainable as possible, but The Green Blue have some great, practical ways to support us with this in longer term.

"We very much look forward to further developing our relationship with The Green Blue Project over time.”  

For more information on The Green Blue email jane.swan@thegreenblue.org.uk