12:50PM // MAR 31, 2026
U.S. SailGP Team Partners With Ocean Conservancy’s Protect Where We Play Initiative To Combat Ocean ‘Ghost Gear’
U.S. SailGP Team joins global effort to remove lost and abandoned fishing gear from the ocean
New York, NY — (April 6, 2026) — The U.S. SailGP Team today announced a new partnership with Ocean Conservancy’s Protect Where We Play initiative to support its Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), a global effort to remove lost and abandoned fishing gear from the ocean and prevent it from harming marine ecosystems.
The collaboration brings together elite sport and ocean advocacy to raise awareness of “ghost gear” — lost and abandoned fishing gear that continues to trap marine life, damage habitats, and contribute to ocean pollution long after it enters the water. Through storytelling, athlete engagement, and live events throughout the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, the partnership will mobilize fans and stakeholders to better understand the issue and support solutions being advanced through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative’s work in the United States and around the world.
“The ocean is our playing field, so protecting it is deeply personal for us,” said Mike Buckley, Co-Owner, Team Principal & CEO of the U.S. SailGP Team. “Partnering with Ocean Conservancy and Protect Where We Play gives us the opportunity to use our platform to raise awareness about ghost gear and support the work being done to remove it from the water.”
Ghost gear is one of the most harmful forms of marine debris, continuing to trap marine life, damage coral reefs, and threaten coastal communities and their livelihoods long after it enters the ocean.
The partnership will launch with a season-long engagement campaign designed to educate fans about the threat of ghost gear and inspire action to support solutions. Ocean Conservancy scientists will connect with U.S. SailGP Team athletes through educational sessions on the environmental impact of ghost gear and the work being done through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative’s global network, while athletes will have the opportunity to join as Protect Where We Play Team Ocean Captains, a network of professional athletes and entertainers advocating for ocean health. The U.S. SailGP Team will also produce digital storytelling and educational content featuring its athletes and Ocean Conservancy experts, hosted on a dedicated online hub for fans.
The collaboration will extend to live programming throughout the season, with Protect Where We Play integrated into select race-week events. Protect Where We Play will also work with the team to identify opportunities for U.S. SailGP Team athletes to visit Global Ghost Gear Initiative projects during the 2026 season, offering firsthand exposure to the work being done to remove ghost gear and protect marine ecosystems.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the U.S. SailGP Team and their incredible athletes to Protect Where We Play,” said Jenna DiPaolo, Ocean Conservancy’s chief brand and communications officer. “These athletes are respected ocean experts in their own right, and with their added voices on this issue, Ocean Conservancy and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative can make a real difference raising awareness and advancing solutions.”
The collaboration will also contribute to the U.S. SailGP Team’s efforts in the SailGP Impact League, the championship’s season-long competition recognizing teams that drive measurable environmental and social impact alongside performance on the water.
About the U.S. SailGP Team
Fueled by a new wave of world-class investors and owners from U.S. sports, entertainment, and technology, the U.S. SailGP Team is redefining American sailing on the global stage. Co-owned by Ryan & Margaret McKillen and two-time world champion sailor Mike Buckley, the team is led on the water by nine-time world champion driver Taylor Canfield. The Americans are one of 13 national teams in the Rolex SailGP global championship that races in iconic locations around the world using identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 60 mph. For more information on the U.S. SailGP Team, visit https://www.ussailgpteam.com/ and stay connected on Instagram.
About Protect Where We Play
Protect Where We Play is Ocean Conservancy’s bold new initiative that aims to inspire a new wave of fan engagement and action by leveraging the sports and entertainment industries as a first entry point to activate a broader and more diverse array of “Team Ocean” advocates. You can watch the sizzle reel here, read Forbes’ coverage of the launch here, and Pollstar’s Earth Day coverage on the origin story of this initiative here. For more information, visit protectwhereweplay.com.
About Ocean Conservancy
For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram. For details on the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, visit ghostgear.org.
LATEST
Support
Contact
Powered By
© FanCapital LLC