As we all search for ways to have a lesser impact on the world around us, our focus has turned more toward sustainable travel. And for some, that means seeking adventure through exploring the world by sail. But how sustainable is travelling by sail really? Is it better than flying, driving, or taking the train? 

The answer is more complex than it seems.

At Another World Adventures, we’ve taken a deep dive into the bigger picture, with the help of adventure sailing expert Andrew Cowen, co-founder of WavySail and Expedition Zero.

Plus, provided tips on how you can make sure your next sailing adventure has minimal impact on the environment. 

Is travelling by sail sustainable?

Sailing often feels like the obvious eco-friendly travel choice – wind-powered, quiet, and seemingly low-impact. But Andrew Cowen helps to shine a light on that assumption: “Travelling by boat today is a lot less sustainable than most people would assume it is.”

Despite the romantic image of billowing sails and the open ocean, the reality is that many modern yachts still rely on diesel engines – both to propel the boat when there’s no wind, and to generate electricity for things like lighting and navigation. Start adding in luxuries like electrical appliances and hot showers and you’d be surprised by how energy intensive it is. 

Wavysail – Andrew’s sailing adventure company – who we’ve connecting our AWA community with for sailing adventures for several years, began measuring the carbon footprint of their trips, and what they found was surprising. “For a 10-day sailing trip, you might be using 200 litres of diesel,” says Andrew. “Which makes it not very sustainable.” A 10-day sailing adventure, excluding international travel to the start and end points, has a CO₂ footprint of about three-quarters of a tonne. “Put that in context – a small family-sized car’s CO₂ footprint for a year doing 12-15,000 miles is only a little more.”

Understanding the impact

A big part of making sailing more sustainable is understanding its real impact so we can make improvements. That’s why Andrew and his team created a free carbon measurement tool in partnership with MarineShift360. “Any sailing business… can go on and within literally 10 minutes they can work out the carbon footprint of any trip that they run.”

This tool is freely available to the sailing community and designed to help businesses of any size get honest about their impact. It’s easy for operators to assume that sailing is inherently eco-friendly and not think to measure their emissions. But understanding their footprint is the first step in reducing it. As people who enjoy sailing trips it’s also important for us to have an understanding of a provider’s environmental impact. 

What about yacht construction? 

While the emissions from running trips are a concern, Andrew points to another issue: “The really sad thing is that [fuel] is actually a small part of the environmental impact of sailing. The big part is the construction and end of life of the sailing vessels.”

Most modern yachts are built from fibreglass (GRP) and carbon fibre – materials that are highly polluting to manufacture and extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. “There’s 24,000 yachts estimated abandoned in Europe alone,” Andrew notes, “and a similar number in Canada. No one knows what to do with them at the end of life because you can’t recycle them.”

Expedition Zero

Determined to address the full lifecycle impact of adventure sailing, Andrew launched Expedition Zero, a pioneering project to design and build fully sustainable expedition yachts.

These new boats are made from mineral fibre – a rock-based material that’s stronger than steel, fire-resistant, and fully recyclable. The fibres are created using a solar-powered induction furnace, avoiding the fossil fuels usually needed in production. The boats are lightweight, which means they can be powered by electric motors charged by solar, wind, and hydropower – entirely regenerative.

“We should have a 90% lower environmental impact than a similar sized fibreglass yacht,” Andrew says. It’s a game-changing approach to adventure sailing and proof that it’s possible to explore the world’s most remote places without damaging them in the process.

What can you do as an eco-conscious adventurer?

If you’re planning a sailing adventure, here are some ways to make your trip more sustainable:

1. Consider your route to the boat
   You may be wind-powered on the water, but how you get to and from the boat matters. Air travel can significantly offset any eco-gains from the sailing leg of your journey. Look for trips accessible by train or bus and try to avoid long-haul flights when possible.
2. Borrow or buy second-hand gear
   Sailing requires some specific kit – waterproof layers, thermal clothing and sun protection. But rather than buying everything new, consider borrowing from friends, buying second-hand, or repurposing gear from other adventures like hiking or skiing. Taking care of your gear so it lasts also reduces your impact.
3. Rethink your diet onboard
   Food choices have a big environmental footprint. Meat-heavy diets, especially on longer trips, can increase your trip’s CO₂ emissions. “If we change our menu to be more plant-based, that makes a massive difference to our CO₂ emissions,” Andrew explains. Eating local produce, reducing packaging waste, and opting for plant-based meals are small changes that add up.
4. Manage waste responsibly
   On a boat, what you bring with you often stays with you. Minimising plastic waste, using biodegradable toiletries, and planning efficient food storage can significantly reduce your environmental footprint.
5. Report wildlife sightings
   Being out at sea puts you in a unique position to contribute to marine science. Reporting sightings of whales, dolphins, seabirds, and even marine debris helps researchers track ecosystem health and monitor environmental changes in areas that are hard to access regularly. Check out the Free Range Ocean citizen science directory for projects (see below!). 

Get involved with citizen science at sea 

If you want your sailing adventure to have purpose, consider joining a citizen science project. Another World Adventures Founder Larissa launched the Ocean Citizen Science Directory – the first resource of its kind – to connect travellers with research-focused sailing opportunities around the globe.

From whale tracking and seabed surveys to microplastic sampling and ocean clean-ups, there are dozens of crewing opportunities listed that allow you to make a meaningful contribution while exploring the world by sail.

Ready to sail with purpose?

Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, there are opportunities to join meaningful, sustainable expeditions at sea. Browse Another World Adventures site for awesome trips, and the Citizen Science Directory to find projects to do during your next sailing adventure – or get in touch to learn more about the amazing opportunities to sail the world in a way that respects the planet.