Sail Design competition organised by Christchurch Sailing Club Sustainability Team
by Richard Phillips 27 Feb 11:12 UTC
21-22 February 2026
Sustainability Sail Design Competition - Christchurch SC members with Kate Fortnam © Jasmine Brown / RYA
Sustainability takes Centre Stage at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
The Optimist Sail design "Ocean Warrior" was on a display at the Dinghy and Watersports Show 2026 at the RYA Sustainability Hub.
"Ocean Warrior" was the winning design in a Oppie Sail Design competition organised by the Christchurch Sailing Club Sustainability Team, led by Rear Commodore Sustainability, David Riley, in conjunction with the Junior Sailing team.
The aim of the competition was to promote Sustainability to the wider boating community including those who enjoy our seas, harbours, rivers and waterways.
Kate Fortnam RYA Sustainability Manager presented the "Ocean Warrior" themed sail to Hetty Holt on Saturday 21st February 2026. Hetty, a keen Optimist sailor, can not wait to use her beautiful new sail!
The sail was made by Sanders Sails in Lymington from a pre-loved XOD sail. The winning design was applied to the sail by Sign Envy of New Milton.
Christchurch Sailing Club, founded in 1874, transferred from an unincorporated members Club to a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee (CIC) in 2022.
Sustainability was embedded into the CIC decision making process with the introduction of a director with responsibility for forming a Sustainability Team and developing a Club Sustainability Policy and Action Plan.
The Club Sustainability Team meets monthly to discuss and progress Sustainability projects. The largest project completed so far was the installation of Solar Panels and batteries in October 2024 which thus far has saved the Club over £5000 in electricity bills and reduced the Club's carbon emissions by over 2,300 kg.
The Sustainability Team has initiated and led several other projects including: the production of quarterly Club Sustainability Newsletters since January 2025, engagement with the Juniors and raising awareness of Sustainability issues via inter alia the Oppie Sail design competition, litter clearing, production of pencil cases from retired sailcloth, inclusion of a Junior member on the Sustainability Team; engagement with the RYA Green Blue Team including a talk at the Club by Kate Fortnam RYA Sustainability Manager in 2025; engagement with Bournemouth University, some local businesses and other members of the local community. A Member survey was carried out in February 2023 to raise awareness of Sustainability Issues and establish a basis for monitoring progress.
In addition the Club supports the work carried out by the Christchurch Harbour Marine Society and the RYA via the Clean Water Sports Alliance to establish cleaner water for the boating community and all other recreational water users.
More information and past Club Sustainability Newsletters can be found on the Sustainability Section of the Christchurch Sailing website at www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/page/sustainability-
The RYA filmed a video in June 2023 in which Ted Sansom, the first Rear Commodore Sustainability (2022-24), describes how Christchurch Sailing Club put Sustainability in its heart: