World Sailing has launched a landmark project to measure and reduce the environmental impact of every Olympic-class boat, marking the first initiative of its kind across any Olympic sport.

The 12-month project will see all six Olympic sailing classes undertake a life-cycle assessment (LCA) to understand their full footprint across production, use and end of life of building and campaigning Olympic equipment. 

The findings will inform future rules, technical standards and Olympic class selection, placing environmental data at the heart of World Sailing’s Olympic decision-making framework. 

The work delivers on World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 and its Olympic Vision, which commits the federation to embedding sustainability into technical standards, equipment regulation and evidence-based decisions aligned with IOC priorities.

From 2032, all classes seeking Olympic inclusion will be required to provide an independently verified LCA, making environmental impact a key factor alongside performance.

MarineShift360, a purpose-built life-cycle assessment tool for the marine industry delivered by Marine Futures and supported by 11th Hour Racing, will provide the methodology, tools and training for each class and manufacturer involved.

Alexandra Rickham, Director of Sustainability at World Sailing, said: “Sailing depends on a healthy ocean, and that gives us both a privilege and a duty to lead. This project provides the evidence we need to make smarter choices and shape the future of Olympic equipment. By working with our classes and manufacturers on a shared LCA framework, we can balance performance with environmental responsibility and help the whole sport move forward.”

Julie Duffus, Head of Sustainability at the International Olympic Committee, said “As expectations on sport continue to evolve, sustainability has to be built into decision-making. By integrating life-cycle assessment into its equipment rules, World Sailing is setting an important precedent, demonstrating how environmental impact can be considered alongside performance when shaping the future of the sport.”

Ollie Taylor, Director of Marine Futures, said: “World Sailing is showing what true climate leadership in sport looks like. Our role is to turn data into insight that helps the industry act, showing where improvements will have the greatest impact and how collaboration can accelerate change.”

Shared data will enable fairer, more transparent standards for manufacturers competing for Olympic selection. 

Many of the same builders also supply thousands of non-elite sailors, meaning innovation at the top will cascade through the wider marine industry and influence how recreational and youth boats are built worldwide.

World Sailing has begun onboarding Olympic-class manufacturers, with the first workshops held in October 2025. Each class is expected to complete its assessment within three months, coordinated by World Sailing’s technical team. 

Future phases will expand the assessment to cover complete Olympic campaigns, including equipment transport and athlete travel, to guide how events are structured and to identify further opportunities to reduce impact.

Early-adopting classes such as iQFOiL and ILCA, which have already undertaken individual assessments, will contribute valuable experience to the shared framework.

Results from the first two phases will inform updated sustainability criteria for future equipment and event operations, helping ensure sailing remains a leader in both performance and environmental leadership.