Sport For Conservation

Sailing: Building Confidence and Leadership on the Water

The challenge.

Young people are increasingly disconnected from the ocean despite depending on healthy seas and coastal environments for food, livelihoods, climate resilience and recreation. At the same time, many have limited opportunities to develop practical ocean skills, leadership experience and pathways into sailing, maritime careers and ocean conservation.

The opportunity: youth sailing as a pathway to leadership.

Sailing provides a powerful, practical way for youth to connect with the ocean. Learning to sail, navigate, communicate, make decisions and take responsibility for team safety develops confidence, resilience, teamwork and leadership. The experience of working together on the water encourages young people to take responsibility, solve problems and build a lasting sense of connection with the marine environment.

From sailing to ocean stewardship.

By integrating sailing with marine science, ocean literacy and hands-on conservation, the boat becomes a classroom and the ocean a place for learning and action. Young participants can explore marine biodiversity, plastic pollution, fisheries and coastal resilience while developing the skills and confidence to become active ocean stewards.

The programme therefore positions sailing not simply as a sport, but as a pathway to ocean connection, youth leadership, maritime opportunities and long-term conservation.

Thanks to the support of Play for Nature Biodiv’Sport, a specific fund with the objective to support projects using sport as a tool to raise awareness among populations and protect biodiversity we were able to set up the first Oz Gooze fleet in Puerto Princesa City, to be used long term to provide courses and opportunity for local youth to be engaged in marine stewardships.

The Oz Goose in an incredibly strong small boat that can be built with local materials anywhere in the world.

The Oz Goose is very affordable, sails very well in all conditions, and carries one to three adults or two adults and a couple of kids, perfect vessel for training and racing.

The OG is becoming very popular in the Philippines with over 100 vessels built in the last 5 year, thanks to the work and design of Mik Storer (https://www.opengoose.com/) (https://www.sailphgoose.com/) and the support of many centers like the Taal Lake Yacth Club, the Albay Yacth Club , and Subic Sailing Club between others.

Diving: Discovering the Ocean from Within

Scuba diving allows young people to experience marine ecosystems in a way that few other activities can. Beneath the surface, they encounter coral reefs, marine life and underwater habitats firsthand, turning ocean conservation from an abstract idea into a personal experience. Diving develops curiosity, awareness and respect for the marine environment, while creating opportunities to learn about marine science, participate in conservation and become active stewards of the ocean.