Sailing Emission Free for Our Ocean

Peggy Engelmann
Jan 20
3 min read

Ocean Forum, Workshops and Spee ches at boot Düsseldorf 2026

At the Ocean Forum during boot Düsseldorf 2026, The Fair Winds Collective contributed with Laura and Peggy to a high-level dialogue on ocean protection, sustainability, and innovation. Represented on stage at the World Pixel Water Stage, our collective shared its perspective alongside leading scientists, researchers, NGOs, and policy-linked initiatives from across Europe and beyond.

The Ocean Forum provided a platform for exchange between science, civil society, and maritime practitioners, demonstrating how collaborative approaches are essential to addressing the multiple pressures facing the global ocean.

A Forum for Science, Action, and Responsibility

The programme opened with a video address by Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO, who highlighted the urgency of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in safeguarding ocean health. And a direct message from Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue.

The Forum brought together an exceptional group of speakers, including:

Dominik Kulczynski – NGO Shipbreaking Platform
Alica Torkov – Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance
Ayşegül Çil – Marine Life Conservation Society
Felix Ivo Roßbach – MareMundi
Clara Wedmore von Baintner – EU4Algae
Luciana Villa Castrillón – Helmholtz Centre Hereon
Matthieu Baillorge – Under the Pole
Claudia Zenkert – SEETREE
Joanna Staneva – Helmholtz Centre Hereon
Arianna Liconti – OutBe
Francesca Trotman – Love The Oceans
Peggy Engelmann – The Fair Winds Collective
Frank Schweikert – German Ocean Foundation

Together, they addressed a broad range of topics, including citizen science, marine data collection, coastal protection, algae-based innovation, coral reef restoration, emission free sailing, digital twins of the ocean, and deep-sea conservation. A central theme throughout the discussions was the importance of translating scientific knowledge into practical, community-based action.

Emission-Free Sailing: A Practical Contribution to Ocean Protection

The Fair Winds Collective emphasized that emission-free sailing is not a theoretical concept or a niche lifestyle choice, but a viable, existing solution. Wind-powered travel, combined with responsible seamanship, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise, and physical disturbance to marine ecosystems.

For our collective, emission-free sailing is both a practical method and a guiding principle. It demonstrates that sailing cargo, research, education, exploration, and mobility can take place without compromising the health of the ocean. Sailing with natural forces rather than against them embodies a respectful and regenerative relationship with the marine environment.

The Role of the UN Ocean Decade

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) aims to close the gap between ocean knowledge and concrete action. It calls for cooperation across disciplines and sectors, recognizing that large-scale scientific research must be complemented by grassroots initiatives and ethical maritime practices.

Climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and the overexploitation of marine resources require solutions at every level. The Ocean Decade provides a global framework that acknowledges the importance of low-impact, community-driven approaches — such as emission-free sailing — as part of a holistic response to the ocean crisis.

For The Fair Winds Collective, the Ocean Decade reinforces what we practice every day: protecting the ocean by moving with it, not against it.

Our contribution to the Ocean Forum was part of a broader collective effort, and it belongs to everyone.