World Oceans Day: How SailGP's Impact League Is Pioneering Sport As A Force For Good

Forbes

6 hours ago

The Australian SailGP Bonds Flying Roos Team
This World Oceans Day, SailGP—the high-speed, close-to-shore international sailing championship where national teams race identical F50 catamarans at iconic venues around the world—is having a zeitgeist moment.
Hollywood icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds just announced they're becoming co-owners of the Australian team (now rebranded as the BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team), while Anne Hathaway joined a consortium of investors acquiring Red Bull Italy. With star power firmly aboard, SailGP is fast becoming the Formula 1 of the ocean.
But behind the glitz and glamor lies something even more revolutionary—a social impact approach that could totally redefine how sport can be harnessed to create positive change.
At the heart of this transformation is the SailGP Impact League, a world-first initiative that turns environmental and social good into a competitive sport. Running alongside the championship leaderboard, the Impact League awards points to teams not for how fast they sail—but for how meaningfully they contribute to sustainability, inclusion, and innovation.
As Fiona Morgan, SailGP's Chief Purpose Officer, explains: 'Performance isn't just about what happens on the water. It's about how we show up for the planet and each other.'
Fiona Morgan, Chief Purpose Officer, SailGP
Each team is paired with a nonprofit impact partner—for example, Australia works with Parley for the Oceans, while New Zealand races for Live Ocean. These partners don't just decorate boats with their logos. They collaborate closely with teams to strategize around clean energy, reduce waste, increase gender equity, and build community access to the sport.
SailGP has intentionally designed the model to leverage what Morgan calls "sport's superpower: incentivizing and celebrating high performance.' But instead of rewarding only race results, the Impact League adds a new scoreboard—where points are earned for actions that cut carbon emissions, diversify leadership, and engage underserved communities.
Having previously worked at Sky on sustainability and behavioral science campaigns, Morgan brought deep insight into how to shift habits at scale. 'Athletes now have more influence than politicians or scientists,' she says. 'But they need education, confidence, and authenticity to speak up. If you give them a way to score points, they'll not only want to win, but they'll want to understand the issue.'
That education is baked into the Impact League's structure. Teams compete across four carefully selected categories: clean energy, circular economy practices, gender equity, and wider inclusion. Their performance is judged by a rotating panel of experts and global icons—from women's football leaders to climate scientists—who bring credibility and visibility to the movement.
The results speak for themselves. Teams have slashed their energy consumption, redesigned operations to be more inclusive, and launched lasting legacy programs in their race cities. '
The model doesn't just motivate athletes—it's also changing how SailGP works with nonprofits. Unlike traditional sponsorships, impact partners only receive prize funding if their team finishes in the top three of the Impact League. 'We've given NGOs skin in the game,' says Morgan. 'That investment shifts the dynamic. These organizations are not just beneficiaries—they're strategic collaborators, helping teams win.'
That mindset was echoed at SailGP's World Oceans Week event at the Wall Street Hotel (with generous support from the Paspaley Group) , where Parley founder Cyrill Gutsch shared, 'Sailors know the seas—and they know the impacts of plastics and climate change are real. Who better to push for the transformation away from fossil fuels than problem-solvers who are already at the helm and collaborating with the elements?'
He added that their alliance with the Impact League is expanding ocean education and empowering new voices in the fight against climate change: 'We're inviting sailors everywhere to explore and share the connections between plastics and climate, and making ocean experiences more accessible.'
Sponsors are responding with equal enthusiasm. Longtime SailGP partners like Rolex, Oracle, Emirates, and Mubadala are also finding ways to contribute to real impact. Emirates, for example, is funding localized Ocean Impact Projects in every host city, from restoring oyster reefs in New York to youth empowerment in Abu Dhabi.
And then there's the celebrity factor. Jackman and Reynolds, announcing their new co-ownership of the Australian team, said: 'We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure. Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country, as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we're writing this in our BONDS. No further questions.'
The Australian Sail GP Bonds Flying Roos Team
But the fun belies a serious commitment. Their involvement helps amplify the Impact League's message to global audiences—and shows that celebrity can be a catalyst for purpose, not a distraction from it.
As for what's next, Morgan has her eyes set on finding the right global storytelling partner to take the Impact League to the next level. 'We're looking for a purposeful brand or media company that understands how to communicate this vision at scale,' she says. 'It's not just about sponsorship—it's about alignment and ambition.'
She believes SailGP is just scratching the surface of what's possible. 'Sport gives people hope,' she says. 'And hope is exactly what the planet needs right now. Athletes never give up—they're always asking: how do we improve? That mindset is what the world needs.'
The SailGP Impact League is more than a side project. It's a blueprint for how sport can evolve into a force for systemic change.
SailGP has engineered a model where climate action, social equity, and thrilling competition live side by side. In a world where most sports are still practicing more traditional models of philanthropy, SailGP has built a scalable platform where teams are pioneering a whole new model which could be adopted by any sport - where the competitive spirit drives real impact.
Morgan sums it up perfectly: 'Sport can be the planet's comeback. And we're just getting started.'