Recently, Quantum Sails introduced a new line of cruising sails with a high recycled material content: the EcoSeries. The cloth we use is made of recycled PET (“rPET”) and without any harmful solvents. rPET is the processed material created from recycled plastics. These sails have the same technical properties and qualities as non-recycled sail cloth. While the EcoSeries line was primarily introduced for cruising performance, we decided to do more with it through a collaboration with True World Organization in Spain, providing EcoSeries sails to their research vessel, S/Y Galaxie.
True World helps companies implement sustainability software and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of their sustainability projects, they started the Love the Mediterranean initiative to promote sustainability and environmental protection. The initiative works on three areas of action:
- Med health, through research and monitoring of the marine environment with the help of their vessels.
- Med literacy, through education and training at workshops and events for children, adults, and corporations.
- Med rights, through change of policies and outreach through events.
Love the Med is creating a fleet of yachts that are to be used for research and educational outings. In 2024, they added the first sailing yacht to the fleet, the 22m S/Y Galaxie. Initially based in Mallorca and currently in Ibiza, Galaxie underwent a complete refit in 2024, done in the most sustainable way possible. Environmentally friendly paints and anti-fouling, an electric engine and solar panels for electricity were all a part of Galaxie's makeover. Quantum stepped up, providing a set of our EcoSeries sails to ensure as much time as possible could be spent sailing without the need of an engine.
With the help of substantial government grants and multiple sponsors (including Quantum Sails), Galaxie was officially launched in April 2024. Less than a year after the launch, they have already done so much for the Love the Med initiative.
- Organized an excursion to Cabrera with the World Wildlife Fund to observe and study local actions of Posidonia protection and develop future strategies to protect the Mediterranean ecosystems.
- Participated in a sailing trip with the Environmental and Tourism Authorities from Tunisia, followed as part of the TRANSCAP Cooperation Program to promote sustainability, climate change resilience, and Blue Economy across the Med.
- Participated in multiple important sailing events, such as the 37th America's Cup, Palma Superyacht Cup and 42nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE to measure and better understand the impact of big sailing events on the environment and the local community.
- Organized a seahorse repopulation activity in the Balearics with the Palma Aquarium Foundation.
- As part of the Love the Mediterranean initiative, Galaxie received the Timon Redeia Award for Best 2024 Initiative in Social and Sustainability Matters and a UN Global Compact Best Practices acknowledgment.
At Quantum Sails, we are proud to support an environmental initiative with such impact, reach, and future goals and enable Galaxie to sail around the Med with a lower environmental impact.