CARIBBEAN SAILING ASSOCIATION

The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) is delighted to announce that Sailors for the Sea, the leading ocean conservation nonprofit serving the sailing industry, will extend its sponsorship of the CSA for another year. This coincides perfectly with the CSA Annual Conference which will take place from October 23-25, 2015 at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort in St. Maarten.

Following last year’s successful sponsorship and a marine environmental seminar at the CSA Annual Conference in Antigua, Sailors for the Sea will host a set of short seminars at the 2015 Conference focused on Caribbean sailing and sustainability, and assisting regatta organizers, yacht clubs and other organizations to understand how the sailing industry and its events can be leaders in the marine field by creating long term community change while improving our island environments.

R. Mark Davis, President of Sailors for the Sea says, ‘The Caribbean is the ultimate destination for winter racing and the fragile marine resources are stressed by everything that comes with increased marine business. Clean Regattas provides a framework that enables organizations to conserve the resources that keep sailors coming back year after year. Regatta events can become larger, cleaner and make headlines for their green efforts.”

This year attention will be focused on how to create sustainability initiatives, why they’re important, growing your event, Caribbean environmental issues and how the sailing industry can be a driving force for ocean protection. Breakout sessions will discuss these topics from a variety of perspectives including what other regattas around the world are doing and how the Caribbean environment is changing. We will hear from past and present Clean Regatta organizers and partners about successes in their programs as well as challenges they have overcome.

To assist the many smaller regattas, clubs and non-profit events from around the Caribbean to attend the conference, Sailors for the Sea is also offering grants to those in need of financial assistance.

Of this initiative CSA President Peter Holmberg says, ‘We are delighted with the support that Sailors for the Sea is providing for the next year. The CSA works very hard to help coordinate and promote sailing in the entire Caribbean region, and we appreciate that an organization like Sailors for the Sea recognizes the strength of that network. Its initiative to offer financial assistance to help more events attend the conference is wonderful and will expand the opportunity for organizers and individuals of the region to learn first hand how they can impact change in their own communities.'  

Member organizations of the CSA can apply for financial assistance by visiting the newly launched website www.csaconference.org and filling out the application form here http://csaconference.org/sailors-for-the-sea-stipends/.

The deadline for applications is September 24th and awards will be by September 28th.

 For full details of the CSA Annual Conference including delegate registration and booking accommodation please visit www.csaconference.org.