The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team has been crowned winners of the Season 4 Impact League, a second championship which tracks the actions teams make to reduce their carbon footprint and increase inclusivity in sailing.
The team’s CEO Sir Ben Ainslie said the win showcased the team’s dedication to sustainability after placing second and third in the Impact League in the two previous Seasons. The British crew’s victory marks the third new Impact League champion in as many seasons for the parallel podium to the racing Championship.
Sir Ben Ainslie, Emirates GBR CEO, said: “Winning the Impact League is testament to the team’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, innovation, and using the power of sport to inspire and educate the next generation. After placing second in the first Impact League Season and second last year, we are proud to reach the top spot this Season. This win highlights the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental challenges. Athletes and sports teams have a responsibility to use their platform to drive positive change and raise awareness about climate issues. By advocating for sustainability, they can help protect our future.”
The British team has rounded off a hugely impactful season on and off the water to lift the highly coveted trophy and secure prize funds for their purpose partner, The 1851 Trust’s climate education programme Protect Our Future. Throughout the season, teams were judged against four Focus Areas – Climate Action, Accelerating Inclusion, Race to Zero Waste, and Breaking Boundaries.
Emirates GBR’s Focus Area Submissions:
- Race to Zero Waste (Waste Reduction): In collaboration with the 1851 Trust and Protect Our Future, Emirates GBR hosted 1,750 students at SailGP Events for education on climate change and how they can reduce their waste to be more sustainable. The science-based education resources created by Protect Our Future are free to use and available globally online, enabling schools to become climate hubs.
- Accelerating Inclusion (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion): Created an internship programme with The Greig City Academy, and inner-city London school, to make careers in the marine industry more accessible. Worked with the school and young people to identify and breakdown the barriers of entry to create a long-term, financially supportive programme. The first intern was Kai Hockley, an 18-year-old from Tottenham, London, who has joined Emirates GBR at five SailGP events around the world.
- Climate Action (Carbon Reduction): Designed, created and installed a bespoke portable renewable energy installation with Low Carbon. The 38 solar panels and two micro wind turbines produce enough power to take Emirates GBR’s base off-grid at events and help power other teams. They then created a Blueprint to support other sports teams in industries adopt renewable energy.
- Breaking Boundaries (Gender Equity): Created highly ambitious and committed pathways for athletes Hannah Mills and Hannah Diamond, on and off the water. Supporting Mills in her ambition to become a SailGP Driver and Diamond in her physiotherapy career. Mills and Emirates GBR CEO Sir Ben Ainslie also launched Athena Pathway, a development programme for female and youth athletes to widen the talent pool for SailGP. The team was also commended for showcasing gender equity off the water, with a 50/50 gender split in its senior management team.
The team placed third in the Race to Zero Waste focus area, second in Climate Action and then sealed the deal on the Impact League top spot by coming first in the fourth and final focus area, Breaking Boundaries.
Emirates GBR Strategist Hannah Mills OBE, said: “We are so proud to be crowned winners of the Impact League. The whole team has worked extremely hard to not only make positive changes ourselves, but also inspire others to take climate action too. Across the season we’ve achieved some amazing things with our Purpose Partners, The 1851 Trust’s climate education programme Protect Our Future and Low Carbon, from educating 1,750 children at SailGP events on climate action to taking our team base off-grid with our renewable energy installation. We are looking forward to defending the Impact League trophy next season with even more exciting and innovative projects.”
Roy Bedlow, Chief Executive of Low Carbon and supporter of the 1851 Trust said: “This Impact League victory comes from taking bold moves, along with the team’s daily commitment to sustainability. Together, we are showcasing what is possible when elite sport teams and business work together on climate solutions.”
The team will be officially crowned winners of the Impact League at SailGP’s inaugural Impact Awards in San Francisco on Friday evening, ahead of the SailGP Grand Final in the Californian city on Saturday and Sunday. Teams will be battling it out to secure a place in the three-boat winner-takes-all final, with a prize of $2m up for grabs.
