GOING GREEN WITH CARIBBEAN SAILING CHARTER YACHTS

Throughout the Caribbean, the people of the islands earn their livelihoods from travelers who come to enjoy the natural assets of sea, sand and sun that make this area of the globe a truly spectacular paradise destination. Unfortunately, the ocean surrounding these island gems, which was once considered inexhaustible and resilient, is in fact, finite and fragile. The good news is that now more and more visitors are concerning themselves with sustainable travel, carbon offsets and reducing the carbon footprint of the travel industry. As a traveler, you always have the opportunity to make choices in how you impact the areas you visit. Perhaps the most environmentally friendly vacation you can take is on a Caribbean sailing charter yacht.

For centuries, sailors recognized that the human interactions between a sailboat and the natural elements of the water and weather encouraged not only great rewards, but a true sense of wellbeing. Today, as countless charterers have discovered, not only is a sailing charter yacht good for you – it is also good for the environment. A sailing charter yacht is the ultimate going green activity. Sailing is one of the oldest means of emission-free travel. Since your sailing charter yacht is wind-powered, you will use very little fuel, if any. A vacation on a Caribbean sailing charter yacht is an exhilarating tonic for your senses: it is refreshing, all-natural and very, very clean!

Although sailing is a green hobby, we all have an impact on the environment. There are many steps that can be taken with charter yachts, either through the charter yacht bases or by the charterers themselves, to sustain the high quality of water and local environments of the Caribbean.

Many charter yacht bases and marinas are making ongoing efforts and improvements through public awareness, recycling and technology to protect the delicate ecosystem. For instance, at the Sunsail facilities at Wickhams Cay II in Tortola, an environmentally sound breakwater was developed to allow

Although the charter yacht bases and marinas are doing their part, it is really up to you to be the most eco-friendly charterer and reduce the impact of sailing on the environment. To ensure that your sailing charter yacht remains the ultimate green activity, consider the following:

1. Always respect the nature around you. Observe and enjoy the natural beauty of the Caribbean without damaging it. Be very careful when snorkeling and diving the coral reefs. One kick of your fins can

destroy hundreds of years of coral growth. Do not touch the fragile organisms with your body or equipment. And, pick up after yourself- always check for garbage before leaving an island.

2. Consider booking charter yachts with alternative energy systems. Many of the boat builders are now designing charter yachts that are more eco-friendly. Several charter yachts are now installing wind generators and solar panels to charge the boat systems. These help minimize the time required to run the engine to charge the batteries. Check with your charter yacht broker for the availability of these “green” boats.

3. Reduce your carbon footprint. Open up the hatches and side vents and use the natural ventilation for comfort. Part of the pleasure of a Caribbean sailing charter yacht is the constant trade winds that provide plenty of fresh air. If you run the generators all the time or all night for air-conditioning, you are creating a lot of pollution.

4. Control the amount of garbage you create. Since recycling is often considered too expensive, garbage disposal on the islands usually ends up in landfills which impact the beauty of the environment you came to enjoy, not destroy. Therefore, limit the amount of garbage you create. Avoid taking plastic on board, such as six-pack rings, plastic bags, disposable plates, cups and cutlery. Bring reusable shopping bags when you provision instead of collecting plastic bags from the store. Instead of buying cases of water in small plastic bottles, buy gallon jugs of water and buy one souvenir plastic cup for each person onboard.

5. Provision green. Think about the products you are going to buy and purchase less harmful products that help conserve the environment for future generations to enjoy. Many grocery stores in the Caribbean sell cleaning products under the brand name, “7th Generation” or “ECOVER” which will not harm the water if they end up there.

6. Garbage Disposal. Never throw garbage, including food, overboard. Fish and other wild life cannot use our food properly. Human food alters their natural feeding behavior, alters the nutrient balance of the reef, and disrupts the natural predator-prey interactions. Stow any loose items such as plastic bags so they do not end up overboard. Although cigarette butts may appear small and insignificant to some, they are definitely not! They can last up to five years on the beach or in the ocean and they are deadly to sea creatures that confuse them with food. Even though some of the islands may charge a small fee per bag, always dispose of trash in designated areas only or with the trash pick-up boats.

7. Water toys. Although fuel-driven water sports can be loads of fun for some, they use up carbon credits and can cause noise pollution. There are so many other water toys available on your Caribbean sailing charter yacht that do not use fossil fuel. Consider trying kayaks, sailingdinghies, windsurfers, kite boards, snorkel gear, and floating mats.

There is no finer way to take a break, relax and do something good for your soul than to take a vacation in the Caribbean. The crystal clear blue water, palm-fringed sandy beaches, balmy trade winds and the laid-back vibe of the Caribbean is truly good for you. We all have the responsibility to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect the natural assets of the islands. There is no doubt that one of the most environmentally friendly ways to spend your time in the Caribbean is aboard a sailing charter yacht.

To be an ecologically friendly traveler, contact www.visailing.com to book your sailing charter yacht. You will be doing your part to ensure this paradise remains pristine and unspoiled for future generations.

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