The final conference of the Sail4Sustainability project took place in Bilbao, Spain, marking the official conclusion of this 24-month Erasmus+ Sport Collaborative Partnership. Hosted by project partner Moragues & Scade Abogados, the event brought together representatives from all consortium members, stakeholders, and experts to reflect on the project’s achievements and discuss its long-term impact.
Launched under the Erasmus+ Sport programme, Sail4Sustainability aimed to empower young people to make sustainable choices and take concrete action to protect the environment through sailing. By combining sport, environmental education, and social inclusion, the project has provided an innovative model for how sailing can serve as a platform for promoting sustainability and life skills development among youth.
Over two years, the consortium – composed of Sailing Club Maxi (Croatia), Zentrum für Innovative Bildung (Austria), Karasu Genclik Sanat ve Spor Kulübü Derneği (Türkiye), Moragues & Scade Abogados (Spain), ASD Sport Compass (Italy), and Stichting Sailors for Sustainability (Netherlands) – successfully developed and implemented several key outputs:
A Sustainable Sailing Programme integrating environmental awareness, technical sailing skills, and social responsibility;
A comprehensive set of training materials, including a manual on environmental sustainability, a toolkit for inclusion and diversity, and digital learning resources;
The creation of an international expert network to promote and sustain green sailing practices across Europe.
The conference in Bilbao served as a platform to present these results, share good practices, and outline pathways for further cooperation. Participants highlighted that while the official project activities have concluded, the knowledge, partnerships, and methodologies developed through Sail4Sustainability will continue to generate lasting impact within local sailing communities and youth organizations.
The consortium reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainability through sport and to ensuring that the legacy of Sail4Sustainability remains active beyond the project’s lifetime – promoting environmental responsibility, inclusion, and positive values among future generations of sailors.
