SOS Open Ocean Recycling Program: 

Setting examples for yacht races around the World.

SOS contacts: Nick Barran,  SOS Advisory Board, LA /  Capt. Paul Clark, SOS President, HI

SOS@saveourseas.org

The biennial TransPac Yacht Race is a 10-day race across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Honolulu.  It is one of the most prestigious yacht races in the world.

 “We won the race and we also recycled everything.  We did not throw anything overboard that we didn't eat.  It was a mental attitude that we carried through the whole race...that we cared about the sea and we cared about winning."

John Jourdane
NavigatorSilver Bullet 1993 TransPac Winner.

Trans Pacific Yacht Race 2003

Goal: To Educate Yacht racers and the world about the fragile state of our ocean, to have a limited impact on the sea, to recycle  “onboard” and not pollute, to help create a database of pollutants in the Pacific Ocean. 

1.   Require (encourage) the racers to recycle and keep all non-biodegradable trash onboard.

2.   Distribute an Ocean Pollution Survey Log which would be maintained by each yacht during the entire race (time and conditions permitting)

3.   Recycling is a requirement; a regulation states that any racer who throws anything overboard from a yacht during the race would cause that yacht to be disqualified from the race.

4.   Racers are instructed to recycle paper, aluminum, glass and plastics.  All other debris, other than biodegradable are kept onboard as well.

Through the combined efforts of SOS, TransPac, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT), a local waste disposal company and a prominent Oahu recycling company, an unloading station for the yachts' recyclables and refuse is set up next to the arrival dock at the Ala Wai Yacht Basin.

The "onboard" Recycling Project was successful in the 1993 TransPac and serves as a model for all other ocean cruising and racing vessels, as well as fishing fleets, cruise liners and military vessels.

“There’s no justification for throwing trash” Nick Barran circa 1993.

Recycling Project 1993 results: 

1.   The cumulative data revealed contamination sightings, on the average, every 30 minutes, everyday of the race.  Contaminants included plastic floats, nylon driftnets, styrofoam and numerous other non-biodegradable materials.

2.   Our database was shared with the United National Environmental Programme, American Oceans Campaign and other environmentally concerned organizations. 

Pollution Survey

While the Pollution Survey was informative and necessary for the creation of a database, it does not show the extent of other less apparent sources of ocean pollution:  run-off from coastal cities, pesticides, air pollution, oil spills, open ocean transporting of plutonium, toxic and radioactive waste, and high frequency underwater sound pollution.  Ending these types of ocean pollution is a more complex task that will require the cooperation of industry, science, technology and nations.

Log for MPS (marine Pollution Survey) to include:

a.    repetitive pollution

b.   # of incidents

c.    GPS points to mark sights

Group Collaboration

Group collaboration is the most powerful tool we have to raise ocean awareness.  This is the direction SOS is pursuing to achieve its goals.  SOS sponsors the yearly Clean Ocean Conference in the Hawaiian Islands.  This conference brings together representatives of commercial and recreational ocean users, leaders in recycling and waste disposal, and advocates of keeping our oceans clean to benefit the life everywhere on planet Earth.  After identifying all sources of ocean pollution, solutions are proposed and international agreements drafted.

Tips from Capt. John of the “Silver Bullet” 

1.  Watch what you buy

2.  Don’t take packaging or Tupperware

3.  Buy in quantity

4.  Rinse Bottles (no smell)

5.  Pre Freeze cooked food

SOS eco-awards for finishers

1.    Best Log

2.    Most Trash On board

3.    Ocean Ecology Award

4.    Best Eco Principles

The Future of this project includes unifying international yacht racing associations, recreational boating organizations, cruise line companies, commercial ocean industries, as well as military and government leaders.  Our goal is to have every ocean-going vessel in the world recycling, or at least retaining all non-biodegradable trash onboard.  We already know this goal will be achieved.

The work of SOS will continue until our goal of ending all ocean pollution is attained.  With all life depending on the viability of the world's oceans, our lives are on the line until we succeed.  Time is of the essence.  We must act now.  For SOS, that means dedicating our lives to saving our seas.

It is necessary that we all work together to keep our oceans safe from pollution and contamination.  The sea provides many of our foods and is a major recreational resource.  Microscopic creatures in the seas generate a large portion of the oxygen that we breathe.  Contamination is killing the oxygen producing creatures and adversely affecting our health and our environment. 

SOS demands pro-active solutions NOW.  For more information, contact us at sos@saveourseas.org

Clean Oceans make us all winners!

All Ships must be responsible and held accountable for their actions!