Dear Skippers, Crew Members, and Participants of the Aegean Regatta 2024,
The Aegean Regatta is, for all of us, much more than just a purely nautical sports event. It is an opportunity to promote the values of sustainability and respect for the environment, which are an integral part of the philosophy of sailing and a characteristic inherent in those who love the sea and our islands. In this context, we invite you to contribute to the positive environmental footprint of the event by adopting responsible waste and natural resource management practices.
At the island stops of this year’s event, from Kalymnos, Nisyros, Tilos, Chalki, to Rhodes, the message we are encouraged to embrace through our example is that respect for the balance between the environment and sports is essential. The islands of our Aegean, and particularly those of the beautiful Dodecanese, have their own stories to tell of pioneering and achievement in environmental management, and we are called upon to align ourselves with this.
Specifically:
Waste Management: On the island of Tilos, the Municipality has implemented the pioneering program “Just Go Zero Tilos,” aiming to achieve zero waste. Crews leaving waste on the island must separate it into at least three streams: recyclable, organic, and non-recyclable. Please strictly adhere to this separation to protect the environment and the island’s aesthetics.
Rational Water Management: The sufficiency and quality of water on the Aegean islands are critical. You are urged to use water sparingly, avoiding waste, and to inform your crews about the importance of conserving water resources.
Caring for the environment is a shared responsibility for all of us, and your contribution is crucial to the success of this effort. The Aegean Regatta 2024 is not just a race, but also an opportunity to demonstrate that our love for the sea and the environment can be combined with action and responsibility.
Sincerely,
Emmanouil Koutoulakis
Secretary General of the Aegean and Island Policy
Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Aegean Regatta 2024
