SSL is proud to announce the appointment of Afrodite Zegers-De Kleine, Olympic sailor and SSL athlete, as the League’s first Sustainability Manager.
This marks a pivotal step in The Star Sailors League’s (SSL) course toward cleaner, fairer regattas and a more sustainable future for sailing. The League is currently developing the SSL Sustainability Policy & Toolkit, a comprehensive framework defining how every SSL event – from the Gold Cup to regional training – will protect our oceans, support local communities, and inspire positive change.
Afrodite brings invaluable insight from both her Olympic career and her passion for ocean conservation. In her new role, she will coordinate SSL’s sustainability roadmap, guide event teams in implementing best practices, and represent the League within leading global programs such as Clean Regattas, World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030, and the IOC Sustainability Strategy.
“Sustainability is a responsibility and a big part of our competitive spirit. I’m proud that SSL is taking this step – and that sailors are leading the change,” says Afrodite Zegers-De Kleine, SSL Sustainability Manager.
Actions Already Underway
While the framework is still being finalized, SSL’s sustainability actions have already begun to sail with purpose.
Every team competes in identical SSL47s, a “shared boats, shared responsibility” approach that significantly reduces shipping emissions across the circuit. Each SSL47 also carries a second life, having been rebuilt from an existing RC44 hull – extending its lifecycle and minimizing material waste.
The effort continues ashore. SSL’s Swiss maintenance yard is powered entirely by solar energy, while plastic-free water-refill stations have replaced single-use bottles at events. Even on the water, efficiency leads the way: during the 2023 SSL Gold Cup Finals, just four coach boats supported 440 sailors, proving that high performance doesn’t have to come at a high environmental cost.
Local sourcing and community impact round out the mission. Over 60 percent of suppliers are locally based, and surplus food from events is donated to community partners, ensuring the positive ripple effect extends well beyond the racecourse.
Each initiative supports Clean Regattas’ environmental goals and aligns with World Sailing’s Agenda 2030 pillars.
Next Stop: SSL Sea Games Thailand 2025
The next chapter in SSL’s sustainability journey unfolds in Thailand, where the SEA Games 2025 will serve as a pilot event for the League’s evolving sustainability standards.
Together with local organizers, SSL will use this milestone to test and refine new procedures ahead of the 2026 season – bringing global ambition to local action.
The event will introduce free water-refill stations and plastic-free operations across all venues, setting a new benchmark for responsible regatta management. A harbour cleanup day will engage sailors and volunteers in protecting the waters that host the competition, while a digital-only Sailor Pledge will replace printed materials and encourage personal accountability.
By sourcing food and materials locally and establishing donation partnerships, the SEA Games will ensure its impact benefits both the sport and the surrounding community – making every race a step toward a cleaner, fairer future.
“As both a sailor and now Sustainability Manager, it’s really special to see how far we’ve already come within SSL. Thailand will be our chance to take the next step – to turn our values into visible action. Together with the local team, we’ll build on what’s already started: reducing plastics, promoting reuse, and creating real community impact. It’s about proving that sustainability can be embedded in every detail of an event, and that it brings people together, just like the sport itself.”, Afrodite remarks.
What’s On the Horizon?
Looking ahead, SSL is aligning its initiatives with three key global frameworks shaping responsible sport:
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Clean Regattas: the international standard by Sailors for the Sea, certifying sustainable sailing events.
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World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 and Special Events Charter: setting expectations on waste, inclusion, and legacy.
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IOC Sustainability Strategy: focusing on venues, sourcing, mobility, workforce, and climate action.
These frameworks form the foundation of SSL’s path toward full compliance with World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2025–2030.
Two flagship events; the European Qualifiers 2026 and the SSL Gold Cup Finals 2026, are charting a bold course toward environmental excellence. Both will be officially registered with Clean Regattas, the world’s leading sustainability program for sailing events, with the ambition to achieve Platinum-level certification. This commitment means following more than twenty verified best practices, from comprehensive recycling and waste management to PET-free hydration, locally sourced materials, and marine-habitat protection. The events will also champion equal participation and community outreach, setting a new benchmark for SSL’s global sustainability standards.
Afrodite concludes with sharing, “We’ve already made great progress, and now it’s about consistency. My goal is to make sustainability part of SSL’s DNA, something that grows with every event and every sailor who joins us.”
All together, these initiatives prove that world-class competition and environmental responsibility can thrive on the same course.
Did You Know?
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One refill station saves up to 2 000 bottles per event.
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Reusing an RC44 hull prevents 2.5 tonnes of composite waste.
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At the 2023 SSL Gold Cup, SSL used 90 percent fewer coach boats than similar events.
Join the Journey
In the coming months, SSL will share updates as the Sustainability Policy & Toolkit takes shape, and as the League prepares for its first Clean Regattas certifications.
Follow our progress on the website and on Instagram @starsailorsleague using
#SailClean #SSLSustainability #RacingForThePlanet
Up Next
November: Getting ready for the SEA Games 2025 – our team making change happen.
December: The SEA Games 2025 sustainability stories.
January: Steps toward clean regattas platinum – inside preparations for 2026.
Written by: Madeleine Lithvall