Ecogestures for yachtsmen: reducing your carbon footprint when sailing
Whether at sea or on land, adopting ecogesture for yachtsmen and yachtswomen helps to reduce our carbon footprint while still enjoying the pleasures of sailing. In this article, you'll find practical advice on how to prepare your boat in an eco-responsible way, respect biodiversity and adopt sustainable behaviour at sea. Set your course for greener sailing! ⛵🌍
Preparing your boat in an eco-responsible way
Before setting sail, a few simple actions can make a big difference in limiting the environmental impact of your boat. Here are a few ideas of ecogestures for boaters to adopt when preparing your boat before the sailing season.
Careening your boat in a dedicated area
To protect the environment, it is essential to carry out your careening in specially equipped technical areas, such as those in Brest marinas.
The Marina du Moulin Blanc has a careening slipway and a careening area. The Marina du Château also has a careening area. These careening areas are equipped to collect and treat run-off water in order to limit pollution.
When sanding the hull, be sure to collect any toxic residues (such as paint residues, used paintbrushes or empty pots) and take them to the clean points provided by the Brest marinas at the careening areas so that they can be properly treated. ♻️
If you do the careening yourself, avoid windy days. This will minimise the dispersion of harmful dust in the air and on the ground.
Finally, a simple piece of advice: sail regularly! ⛵
This limits the attachment of marine organisms to the hull, reducing the frequency of careening.
Choosing an ecological antifouling
Antifouling is essential for protecting your boat's hull from marine organisms. However, most products contain substances that are toxic to the environment. Fortunately, there are environmentally-friendly alternatives.
You can opt for antifoulings based on natural ingredients, which are better for preserving marine life while remaining effective. The fish will thank you!
Maintaining your engine to reduce pollution
A well-maintained engine consumes less fuel and pollutes less.
To limit your impact on the environment, make sure you carry out regular checks: cleaning filters, changing oil, checking injectors, etc.
Careful maintenance reduces pollutant emissions and extends the life of your engine.
Beware of oil pollution
When filling up your tank at a petrol station, be careful not to spill hydrocarbons into the water. These spills, even in small quantities, have a devastating impact on marine ecosystems.
The Brest marinas sell reusable absorbent sheets. These can be used to catch any fuel drops that may fall into the water during refuelling manoeuvres.
You can buy one at the harbour office.
The port teams are trained in the fight against accidental oil pollution, but it is important that everyone feels concerned by the subject and leaves the port as clean as possible.
Ecogestures for yachtsmen on the pontoon
When you're moored at the pontoon, a few good practices can go a long way towards protecting the environment. Take advantage of the facilities available to you to reduce your ecological footprint, and adopt simple but effective actions to help preserve the oceans.
Use the harbour toilets when you're docked
Brest marinas have toilet facilities, so why not make the most of them 😉
By using the harbour toilets rather than those on your boat, you avoid discharging waste water directly into the sea. This simple gesture helps to preserve water quality and protect marine biodiversity.
It's also more comfortable and pleasant than having to manage your boat's black water tanks.
In short, a small ecological gesture that's good for the planet!
Emptying tanks at grey and waste water pumping stations
When you're docked, remember to empty your grey water and waste water tanks at the dedicated pumping stations. Brest Marinas are equipped with these facilities to enable you to treat your waste water responsibly.
Whether for dishwater, shower water or black water, using these stations helps to limit pollution in port areas and preserve marine ecosystems. 💧
It also prevents the dispersion of harmful substances that can disturb underwater fauna and flora.
You can ask harbour agents where the stations are located and get practical advice on how to use them.
Reducing energy consumption on board
Adopting eco-actions for yachtsmen, such as producing and consuming energy more responsibly, is essential to reducing the ecological impact of your boat.
Consider installing solar panels or a small wind turbine on board. This equipment produces renewable energy to power your appliances without the need for a fuel-guzzling generator.
Another important point: invest in durable, high-performance batteries. These will store the energy produced by your solar panels or wind turbines, giving you greater energy autonomy.
Thanks to these simple gestures, you can play an active part in preserving the marine environment, while enjoying greener sailing.
Brest marinas have also been running a campaign to unplug boats for several months now. The aim of this approach is to significantly reduce energy consumption, and to ensure the safety of boats and yachtsmen by avoiding the risk of fire. 🔌
Reducing water consumption
When using the port showers, remember to limit your water consumption.
On board, use water-saving shower heads and check your plumbing system regularly for leaks to avoid wasting water.
On pontoons, don't leave your water hose connected when you're not using it. Don't let the water run for nothing, even for a few minutes.
Less wasted water and smarter energy consumption is good for the environment… and the budget! 💡💦
Adopting responsible behaviour at sea
Ecogestures for yachtsmen don't just happen on the pontoon. It's also at sea!
Sailing at sea is a privilege, but it's essential to respect this fragile environment. As a yachtsman, you can adopt simple actions to preserve marine biodiversity and reduce your ecological impact, while enjoying your sailing to the full.
Managing waste on board a boat
When you're at sea, it's important to manage your waste responsibly.
The first step is to avoid taking over-packaged products with you.
💡 Before setting off, remember to remove all unnecessary packaging and give preference to reusable containers.
On the boat, set up a selective sorting system. A small bin for plastic, another for household waste, and that's it! 🗑️
Back in the harbour, all you have to do is put your sorted rubbish in the appropriate bins or at the clean point.
If you smoke on board, remember to use an ashtray or pocket ashtray to prevent cigarette ends ending up in the water. Even in small quantities, cigarette butts are a major source of pollution for the oceans. The marinas in Brest provide free pocket ashtrays for boaters. Make the most of them!
Use non-polluting products to clean your boat
There are many ecological alternatives available today that are just as effective for maintaining your boat without harming the environment.
Choose non-polluting detergents that contain no phosphates or other chemicals that are harmful to marine life.
You can even make your own cleaning products, just like at home, using white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or black soap.
Your boat will stay clean, while respecting the planet! 🌍
Paying attention to your anchorage
When choosing your anchorage area, pay attention to where you drop your anchor. Choose sandy areas, which can be identified by their light colour, to minimise the impact on the seabed.
You can also use a buoy rope, a system that makes it easier to pull up the anchor without tearing anything.
Finally, in organised anchorage areas, prefer fixed buoys. This preserves the seabed while simplifying your anchoring manoeuvres.
Ecogestures for yachtsmen make an active contribution to preserving the oceans, but you can also go further by taking part in concrete actions. Why not join a litter pick to further protect marine ecosystems? Organisations such as Surfrider Foundation and Océanopolis Acts regularly organise events to raise awareness and mobilise people to protect the oceans. A great opportunity to act together for the environment! 🌊💪
Warning, you are using an insecure browser!