SAILING NEWS
News 03
Carr proud of the progress
made by The Green Blue
THE sell-out second annual conference of
The Green Blue – the joint BMF and RYA
initiative that promotes the sustainable use
of coastal and inland waters – inspired and
motivated its 110 delegates at the SS Great
Britain, Bristol on the 4th November.
Representatives from sailing clubs, marine
businesses, port authorities, colleges and
other water-interested organisations heard a
stirring call to action by broadcaster and
environmentalist Chris Packham. In his pas-
sionate keynote address he said: “Other
than humans, nothing in nature entertains
waste. In nature, from producing pollen to
the striking colours of a cuttle fish, every-
thing has a purpose. We’ll have to adapt to
climate change, and look after the environ-
ment. The single most important thing is
that you, as an individual, can make a dif-
ference.”
Chris was followed by David Fell, of
Brook Lyndhurst Ltd, who discussed
research into behaviour change, pointing
out that where 15 years ago, recycling was
considered “pretty weird”, it’s now normal.
In the same way, living a low-carbon life is
still considered unusual, but it will soon
become normal. David’s excellent talk also
offered advice on how to encourage envi-
ronmental behaviour change in clubs and on
the water.
Workshops provided a wealth of informa-
tion, including the money-saving advantag-
es of recycling and a new online toolkit
(www.marinetoolkit.co.uk) that helps clubs
and organisations to think about the impact
of their activities, and what they can do to
avoid them. Delegates were also able to dis-
cuss ways of making their clubs, and their
events, greener, as well as learning about
the latest advances in antifoul wash-down
systems and marine paints. A final work-
shop offered crucial information and advice
about the sourcing of funding to achieve
environmental improvements in clubs and
businesses.
Delegate Lesley Moorley, of the John
Lewis Partnership Sailing Club, felt very
GREEN BLUE: The SS Great Britain provided a suitable backdrop to the second annual conference.

positive at the end of the event: “I needed
to know how to train people to recycle. The shop today, we’d like to get The Green from all areas of boating, and Sarah Black,
session on behaviour change was very Blue’s recycling officer to come down and The Green Blue’s project manager,
The RYA’s CEO Rod Carr concluded that
good, and I will now start using my month- assess the club.” appealed for action: “The last 4 years of
The Green Blue has proved itself: “The
ly newsletter to encourage people.” Denise Robinson, of Stone Sailing Club, The Green Blue we have seen people take
reality is, this is not a flash in the pan, but a
Rachel and Simon McEvoy, of Nottingham said: “The biggest challenge is to get all some great steps into the unknown, chang-
long-term education process, and I’m per-
County Sailing Club, attended specifically this information out to the members. But ing behaviour and becoming more environ-
sonally proud of that.”
to learn about recycling. Rachel said: with what I’ve learnt today, I will be able to mentally friendly while out on the water.
The Green Blue team provides free litera-
“We’re looking at a new waste management document things more clearly, and make For me the next four years is about bringing
ture and advice via the website www.the-
contract when our current one expires in new things not weird, but normal!” our strap line to life, we want to make that
greenblue.org.uk or by telephone on 02380
March, and having taken part in the work- The conference brought together people sort of behaviour ‘second nature!”
640100
Barker graduates from UK Sport Elite Coach scheme
SKANDIA Team GBR 49er coach Ian Chris Boardman (cycling), Kate Howey and visiting their places of work. The shar- followed that up with silver in 2008. He
Barker has become sailing’s first UK Sport (Judo) and Karen Brown (Hockey), ing of ideas between sports has been hugely admits one of his biggest challenges was
Elite Coach after graduating from the pres- Christchurch-based Barker said the pro- valuable.” embracing the shift in mentality from elite
tigious three-year programme. Barker, 49er gramme had proved to be a hugely valuable UK Sport Elite Coach builds tailor-made athlete to coach.
Olympic silver medallist at Sydney 2000, experience. programmes around each coach, which “It was difficult at first making the transi-
was part of the second intake of high per- He said: “Coaching was always going to be allows them to develop both their technical tion from the mindset of selfish athlete to
formance coaches whose graduation from my next step after I gave up professional skills by working with and observing the selfless coach, and the most I have learned
the programme was celebrated at UK sailing and when this opportunity came best in action and develop the leadership is about myself and how I deal with people.
Sport’s annual World Class Coaching along to join the Elite Coach programme I skills that are the hallmarks of the world’s It’s a big shift because you want to make
Conference at The Belfry. knew it would provide me with a much bet- best operators, not just from the sporting things happen but you can’t do that by being
The aim of the Elite Coach Programme is ter education than trying to teach myself world but also the worlds of business, imposing, you need to tease the answers out
to accelerate the development of coaches how to be a World Class coach. industry and the arts. of the athletes themselves.”
with the potential to be the driving force “The aim of the course is to pack 20 years Cardiff-born Barker, 42, achieved Olympic Skandia Team GBR 49er Development
behind home medal success at London of coaching into three years and we have silver helming for Simon Hiscocks eight Squad and Paralympic SKUD coach Harvey
2012. had the opportunities to speak to and get the years ago and after briefly undertaking Star Hillary will become sailing’s second UK
After receiving his graduation certificate advice from so many different experts from and Tornado campaigns he started seriously Sport Elite Coach when he graduates from
from legendary rowing coach Jurgen different fields during that time. It has also exploring coaching and in 2007 helped the programme next year. Both Barker and
Grobler alongside seven other 2008 gradu- been brilliant being with people from other Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes to 49er Hillary hold the title of RYA National
ates, including fellow Olympic medallists sports, learning all about how they do things World Championship gold before the duo Racing Coaches.
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