Sustainability
The Canadian Class Association is committed to building the sustainability of our boats and events. We care about the future of the planet and its oceans for the next generations of sailors. Following the testing of sustainable materials for use in composite hulls, the RS21 is designed by RS Sailing to incorporate eco-friendly materials in its construction.
The deck shape was designed to facilitate stacking boats one on top of another which, when combined with the removable keel, optimises transport and storage efficiency. An optional electric motor pack with innovative retracting propeller system is integrally designed into the boat. It is clean, convenient, creates no drag during sailing and offers an environmentally friendly solution for manoeuvering in marinas and to get you home when the wind drops.
The Association strives to set targets for sustainably conscious events such as promoting gender equality, removing social barriers, locally sourcing food and drinks, and minimising single-use plastics. By promoting the use of innovative equipment such as RS Pulse Electric RIBs and remotely-controlled, fully electric MarkSetBot racing marks, we can reduce the number of people involved in race management and help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and avoid seabed-destructive anchors.
Along with the RS Marine Group, we recognise the need for a more formal approach to developing a sustainability policy. To this end, we have committed to the RS Responsible Sailing Campaign which was founded in January 2023. We are planning to set a number of measurable objectives and, in partnership with RS Marine Group, are planning to sign up to the United Nation’s Race to Zero initiative. To help measure progress towards our targets, we will be using marine industry specific tools which may not yet be perfect and, as a voluntary organisation, we may not be either. However, we believe that we are taking steps to head in the right direction.
Sailing events can, by their nature, have both positive and negative environmental, social and economic impacts. We are committed to integrating the Responsible Sailing campaign into our event management wherever possible. The Responsible Sailing event guides, which can be downloaded below, are an amalgamation of ISO 20121, The Green Blue guidance and the RS Marine Group Sustainability Policy.
The RS21 Canadian Class Association supports the RS Responsible Sailing Campaign which seeks to:
Environment
Promote sustainability by limiting energy consumption, reducing greenhouse emissions, fighting resource depletion and protecting biodiversity.
Social
Remove barriers to age, gender, disability and social status whilst encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.
Growth
Develop economic growth through design, innovation and performance.
Each element of the charter is both measurable and verifiable.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries.
They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.¹
The RS Responsible Sailing Campaign supports the Sustainable Development Goals:
Environment
Social
Growth
¹ Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development. sdgs.un.org/goals
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