Take the small wins for our seas

Almost every day we are alerted to a crisis, be it social, political economic or environmental. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and start to block out everything and assume the worst. As sailors, we are all too aware of climate change, warming seas and how that affects our activities.

- LU HEIKELL

Over the last few years, it has become apparent that steps are being taken to address the growing pressures on our waters, from the Save Our Seas campaign and the Studland Bay eco-moorings in the UK, to numerous initiatives in our home waters in the Mediterranean. I recently attended a meeting at the local yacht show held by the Sustainable Sailing in Greece organisation. It was set up to highlight the pressures that large numbers of yachts can have on the marine environment, and steps we can all take to alleviate them. Their work is primarily aimed at charterers and has been warmly received and supported by several charter companies. It is a decent plan, because it means they can reach the thousands of visiting sailors who spend a week or so here, but there is plenty we can all learn. There is nothing difficult about using marine- friendly washing up liquid, sunblock and shower gel. Nor is being careful to avoid seagrass when anc