IMOCA initiates actions to limit harmful emissions in sail production with the launch of the RISE platform
by IMOCA Globe Series, September 30, 10:31 PDT
RISE (Reduced Impact Sail Evaluation) will formalize and enhance the Green Sail scoring framework established by IMOCA © IMOCA class
The IMOCA Class is the first in offshore racing to take measures to mitigate harmful emissions during sail production. Last year, the Class implemented the successful Green Sail rule aimed at lowering emissions in three key areas of sail manufacturing: energy, waste, and transportation.
A more stringent system is now being set up, featuring the introduction of the world’s first certifiable impact reduction program for sail manufacturing.
This program, known as RISE (Reduced Impact Sail Evaluation), is in its final trial phase and set to launch in January 2025. It will formalize and improve the existing Green Sail scoring framework developed by IMOCA, their founding sailmakers, and MarineShift360.
11th Hour Racing is backing IMOCA to further weave sustainability into the core of the class, which is recognized as a leader in the sport, driven by the strong sustainability principles of its skippers.
Imogen Dinham-Price, Co-Manager for Sustainability and Partnerships at IMOCA and leader of the Green Sail program, states that RISE was a natural advancement in the Green Sail initiative’s rollout.
“The Green Sail Rule was excellent, but it lacked some rigor,” she said. “We aimed to formalize it more, for both IMOCA and the sailmakers, ensuring they have a reliable system they can trust and understand how to comply.”
Dinham-Price believes RISE will solidify the Rule in the sail production process for IMOCA teams and clarify any uncertainties or concerns that sailmakers might have in a highly competitive sector. “They need assurance that the process is fair and that when they submit their data concerning energy, transportation, and waste, it is accurate and trustworthy,” she added.
The Rule, introduced in January 2023, mandates that IMOCA teams include at least one sail in their inventory constructed by sailmakers following a points-based scoring system focused on reducing harmful emissions, and all five major sailmakers working with the Class have committed to it.
It incentivizes sailmakers to minimize the utilization of non-renewable energies in producing “Green” sails, reduce air transport in acquiring raw materials and manufacturing, and lessen waste created during the sail-making process.
Ollie Taylor, project director at MarineShift360, remarks that the RISE platform and its certification system, assessing sails based on their environmental impact, represent a step in the right direction. “The RISE certification encourages both manufacturers and consumers to lower their environmental footprint,” he stated. “This scheme is not merely a ‘sticker’ on a sail; it’s a rigorous approach to calculating the lifecycle impact of high-performance racing sails.”
Dinham-Price is hopeful that the Green Sail initiative will progress over the coming year, believing that its principles have promising implications for the future of offshore sailing. “The vision is for IMOCA to pioneer this program, with RISE being adopted for all sails thereafter,” she said. “We are developing it specifically for IMOCA, but the goal is for World Sailing, the governing body of the sport, to adopt this method, making it applicable across other classes. It will also simplify the grading process for sailmakers because they will have already completed this step,” she explained.
Currently, RISE is being tested prior to its formal unveiling in January, and its launch has been positively received by sailmakers, including Lara Poljšak, Director of Sustainability at Quantum Sails. “I believe RISE illustrates our ultimate goal in sail production,” she said. “Though significant green changes in sail manufacturing for highly competitive sailing classes may not always happen, there are always additional (sometimes smaller) opportunities to lessen our sails’ environmental impact.”
She continued: “We anticipate that the Reduced Impact Sail Evaluation will gain momentum within the sailing sector and expand to other classes. At Quantum Sails, we take pride in being involved in this initiative and eagerly await the influence of RISE on the IMOCA Class and the sustainable innovations that will undoubtedly accompany it.”
Dede De Luca, CEO of OneSails, referred to RISE as a “trailblazing project” indicating a “new pathway” for the future of sailing. “At OneSails, we’ve been engaged in this program since its inception, and we’ll strive to advance the implementation and consolidation of a project that is really just beginning. We genuinely hope it becomes a benchmark among sailing classes,” he stated.
Matthieu Souben, Managing Partner of All Purpose Sails, expressed, “It’s intriguing and beneficial that the Class has managed to bring together entities that are competitors in daily activities to collaborate. This is remarkable, and I find our collective efforts to be quite promising and transparent. Everyone has a fairly objective perspective while defending their individual interests, but all of us, the sailmakers, are eager to advance in line with IMOCA. This is effectively a cooperative effort and truly a co-creation.”
“We are very pleased with this dynamic because it reflects a culture we initiated within our sailmaking company years ago, and it’s what has driven us in this direction. It’s a pivotal part of our DNA today. We require consistency between our personal values and our professional activities. In the end, we also view the IMOCA Class as a launching pad to help us make quicker progress, but the goal was established for us, and this is indeed a catalyst for our advancement.”
“At this point, I believe we are always willing to stay a step ahead of regulatory demands, and I don’t foresee that changing. We genuinely hope the rule and RISE will be as stringent as possible. We seek to be driven by our partners, including the IMOCA Class, the skippers, and suppliers, ensuring that the impact of our actions is mitigated to the greatest extent possible, allowing us to be proud participants for many years ahead.”
Pierre-Antoine Morvan, Offshore Racing Manager at Incidence Sails, noted, “There’s a philosophical aspect here; sailing is a relatively clean sport compared to others, and we wish to uphold that philosophy. To be candid, there’s the rating system’s obligation, but it aligns perfectly with our goals. The challenge lies in maintaining competitiveness. Competing with other sailboats means that unless something is mandated by a rule, we typically do not pursue it.”
“Each entity faces different challenges, so each one attempts to steer things their way. This is true for all sailmakers, but that is where the Class steps in to ultimately settle disputes. Once it becomes a rule, we all have to adhere to it.”
“Version 1 wasn’t entirely adequate because it didn’t address the carbon impact of the sail itself. We are pleased with version 2 because RISE will now provide a genuine carbon footprint evaluation of the sails. We must utilize the tools available to us via the rules to determine compliance. Indeed, part of our production is subject to the IMOCA regulations, so we adjust our manufacturing procedures accordingly. We are too small to maintain separate lines for IMOCA and the broader market; thus, all our production is adapted as a result.”
Harri Wren, Sustainability Manager at Doyle Sails, stated, “Doyle Sails proudly received accreditation under IMOCA’s initial Green Sail Rule. Our sail not only met the original standards but significantly exceeded the benchmarks. As the industry adapts with emerging technologies and increased environmental awareness, we are thrilled to be part of the second phase with the RISE introduction. We are dedicated to continuously evaluating and refining our processes to mitigate our global production impact.”
Madalina Preda, Chief Sustainability Officer at North Technology Group, emphasized, “Two years ago, North Sails embarked on life cycle assessments, allowing our sailmakers, designers, engineers, and manufacturing leaders to better comprehend the environmental impact of our products. The RISE framework has expanded and refined this process collaboratively, and we proudly work alongside other sailmakers and environmental specialists, like the MarineShift360 team, to demonstrate what responsible innovation can appear like in our sport.”
