Top windsurfer leaves UK’s ‘filthy’ waters behind…Sarah Jackson
Now the 24-year-old, from Knutsford, has joined the Marine Conservation Society as an Ocean Ambassador, supporting the charity in its work to change policy and improve pollution levels in Britain’s seas.
Since graduating from the University of Bath in 2020, Sarah’s rise to the top of her sport has been meteoric, ranking fourth on the Pro World Tour in 2021 and second at the World Championships held in October 2022.
During the pandemic, travel restrictions forced her to train in the UK. However, Sarah found that she was often faced with sewage pollution at sea due to the releasing of a deluge of raw sewage into our seas, which is often made worse during periods of heavy rainfall.
“This being Britain, where rainfall is very high,” she said, “and because I have to train in all weathers, there were some days when I was basically surfing in a sewer.
“That’s not just unpleasant it’s actually health threatening – but it’s opened my eyes to the problem of pollution in our waterways – not just from sewage but from chemicals and plastics, too.”
Now, to raise awareness of ocean pollution and, hopefully, influence a change in policy, Sarah has become an Ocean Ambassador for UK charity the Marine Conservation Society.
The UK-based charity leads the way in calling for initiatives to protect UK and global waters from overfishing, to protect and restore marine life and to limit pollutants – such as sewage and plastics.
“Because I spend so much time on the water – not just in the UK but around the world – I see at very close quarters the damage the human race is inflicting on the marine environment,” said Sarah, “and that’s why I’m supporting the Marine Conservation Society.”
Nicola Greaves, Head of Marketing at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “We’re so pleased to have Sarah join our Ocean Ambassador team.
“Untreated sewage is being pumped into our seas for hundreds of thousands of hours each year, putting people, planet and wildlife at risk.
“Sarah sees first-hand the problems that our seas face, and we’re grateful for her raising her awareness of our mission for cleaner, better-protected, healthier seas for everyone to enjoy.”