GARMIN ORC Doublehanded Europeans 2025 Achieves Platinum-Level Clean Regatta Certification
The Garmin ORC Doublehanded Europeans 2025, held from 5–12 July in Helsinki, has officially earned the prestigious Platinum-Level Clean Regatta certification from Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program. This certification is the highest standard of sustainability recognition for water-based events worldwide and underscores the event’s deep commitment to marine stewardship and environmental leadership.
Setting a Global Benchmark in Sustainable Sailing
Clean Regattas is the world’s foremost sustainability certification for “on-the-water, near-the-water, and water-loving” events. Since its launch in 2006, the program has enabled over 4,000 events and reached 1.7 million sailors and attendees across 53 countries. It remains a free, self-assessment framework powered by a robust toolkit and ranks events from Participant to Platinum depending on the adoption of up to 20 best practices.
World Sailing has made this certification mandatory for all its sanctioned events highlighting its strategic importance in global sailing policy and ocean health advocacy
Holistic Sustainability: From Practice to Impact
The platinum certification reflects a culture of sustainability woven into the fabric of the event—from logistics planning to on-water operations. These efforts didn’t just meet certification thresholds, they set a strong example of event organization rooted in ocean-first thinking.
Single-use plastics were eliminated through clearly marked water refill stations, reusable dinnerware, and the prohibition of plastic straws.
Participant kits featured durable, reusable gear like dry-bags from Garmin and textiles from Dynamic Nord
Vendors prioritized local, sustainable food and beverages
Green Teams and volunteers facilitated recycling, waste reduction, and plogging, while beach cleanups included collaboration with the Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association.
Environmental education was amplified through communication, where the uniqueness of the Baltic Sea and it’s challenges with eutrophication were calrified.
Strict pollution-avoidance measures were enforced, such as mandatory pump-out systems to ensure boats did not discharge sewage into the sea.
A Collective Effort Worth Celebrating
Achieving Platinum status is the result of close collaboration between organisers, sailors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners. The event’s dedication to reducing waste, sourcing sustainably, and protecting fragile marine habitats sends a clear message: sustainable regattas are not only possible, they can set the benchmark for excellence in the sport.
As Sailors for the Sea noted when awarding the certification:
“We love to see the Best Practices in action and we look forward to sharing your story. Events don’t all have to reach Platinum to deserve celebration, but the Garmin ORC Doublehanded Europeans shows just how far dedication and planning can go.”
Congratulations to everyone involved — and here’s to a future where every sailing event is a Clean Regatta.
Inspiring the Future of Sustainable Sailing
The event’s success didn’t just meet the Platinum standard — it is actively shaping the future of offshore racing. Following last year’s Europeans, the Organising Authority proposed (and passed) a new rule requiring all ORC title event organisers to report on sustainability initiatives in their applications. This year’s certification serves as a working example for others to follow, with further proposals for sustainability reporting on the horizon for the ORC AGM 2025.
Take a look at best practices followed through the event.