Irish offshore sailor Damian Foxall has been recognised as a driving force behind one of sailing's leading environmental initiatives after the Marine Megafauna in Sailing Guidelines were shortlisted for the 2026 Sport Positive Awards.
The guidelines, developed jointly by World Sailing and the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG), have been shortlisted in the Biodiversity category, recognising their role in helping sailing events reduce the risk of collisions with whales, dolphins, turtles and other protected marine wildlife.
Foxall, a co-founder of MMAG, said the recognition reflected the collaborative effort behind the project.
As regular Afloat readers know, the Ireland’s round-the-world sailor and sustainability advocate Foxall joined the World Sailing Offshore Event Organisers Forum when it came to Dún Laoghaire for its World Conference last November.
"The Marine Megafauna in Sailing Guidelines provide a science-based strategy that enables event organisers and sailors to make informed decisions that reduce strike risk to marine wildlife," he said.
"This Sport Positive Award recognition belongs to the remarkable community of scientists, conservation practitioners, sailing organisations and sailors whose expertise and collaboration made this resource possible."
Rather than setting environmental targets, the guidance provides practical tools for race organisers, sailors and officials. It includes operational advice, implementation checklists, case studies and a quick-reference guide aimed at reducing the likelihood of vessel interactions with marine megafauna.
Global Recognition — World Sailing and the Marine Mammal Advisory Group have been shortlisted for a 2026 Sport Positive Award for their practical marine wildlife protection guidance
World Sailing chief executive David Graham said the project marked an important step in embedding biodiversity into everyday sailing operations.
"Working alongside MMAG, we have been able to embed biodiversity into official sailing guidance, giving event organisers and sailors practical tools to incorporate marine wildlife protection into everyday operations."
The guidance has already been adopted by several high-profile international events.
The Ocean Race has incorporated marine megafauna considerations into race routing and operational planning, while the Newport Bermuda Race has strengthened hazard reporting procedures. The St Maarten Heineken Regatta has also explored live acoustic monitoring during whale breeding seasons.
The recognition follows MMAG's shortlist in the same awards last year, when the organisation itself was recognised for bringing together scientists, conservation specialists, race organisers and sailors.
World Sailing says the guidelines have now been distributed to all Member National Authorities, classes and events, establishing an official biodiversity reference framework across the sport.
The 2026 Sport Positive Awards also recognised other sailing initiatives. Yachting New Zealand's RŪNĀ education programme was shortlisted in the Education and Training category, while the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team received recognition in the Purpose-Led Partnership category for its collaboration with kit recycling platform kitround.
