20 July 2026
British Marine Scotland was again one of the sponsors of the Clipper Business Connect Event, hosted at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) on 16 July, part of the programme of events celebrating the 2026 Clipper Stopover in Oban.
Titled, Ocean Race = Human Race, An Environmentally Sustainable Blue Economy, the event offered an industry-focussed discussion on our collective response to the impacts of climate change. Following introductory presentations, a panel then discussed aspects of how our actions in and around the sea, affect the environmental sustainability of the ocean, and ways in which maritime communities can lead on best practice and influence decision makers.
As a legacy from the event, there was support for the idea that a Scotland Healthy Ocean Charter could be developed – that collectively, commercial and leisure marine sectors could build and support a genuine, and creditable common set of practices that minimise their impacts on the ocean’s habitats, species and water quality. This would recognise the responsibilities of the international maritime community, which shares guardianship of the seas, to promote sustainable business practices across the ocean resource.
Frazer Coupland (West Highland Chamber of Commerce) chaired the event and panel members included:
- Heather Thomas, Skipper, Team Scotland Yacht, Clipper Race
- Robert Kidd, Chair of AITC
- Patrick Flockhart, Vice Chair, British Marine Scotland
- Professor Nick Owens, Director of SAMS
- Dr Laura Tulip, Senior Environmental Analyst, MOWI
We were delighted to sponsor the Business Connect event again in 2026 as British Marine and British Marine Scotland are committed to encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour by everyone involved in working on, under or near our oceans. We must ensure this vast but precious resource is preserved for future generations and that business and conservation goals can exist and indeed thrive together.
Sarah Kennedy Chair at British Marine ScotlandFollowing a successful first stopover in 2024, which saw Clipper Race Crews, local people and visitors embrace the town’s ‘Festival of Sea’ celebrations, Oban was again announced as a Host Port on the 2025-26 edition route. The Host Port Partners, Argyll and Bute Council and Bid4Oban, planned an even bigger festival of culture for this year’s event.
Sponsors of the Clipper Connect Event included British Marine Scotland, Certas Energy, Green Power and West Highland Chamber of Commerce.