{"id":18087,"date":"2019-10-24T09:15:48","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T07:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=18087"},"modified":"2021-09-06T13:10:44","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T11:10:44","slug":"yachtsman-sails-over-plastic-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/24\/yachtsman-sails-over-plastic-ocean\/","title":{"rendered":"Yachtsman sails over plastic ocean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back in 1986, solo Australian yachtsman Jon Sanders<\/a> began a non-stop voyage three times around the world. His achievement – covering a distance of 71,000 miles – set a new world record for the longest sailing voyage …a record which remains unbroken to this day!<\/p>\n

Since then he has completed many more voyages. He returned from his tenth circumnavigation just last year at the age of 79, and vowed it would be his last.<\/p>\n

This weekend – October 26th – he will be setting off on another …I asked him why?<\/p>\n

Well, first of all I’ve learned to never say never!\u00a0<\/em>He told me. …I’ve noticed a lot of changes in the ocean during the decades that I’ve been sailing: Factory fishing ships – thousands of miles from home …plastic bags floating far out to sea from river effluence; so when it was suggested I could help by making this survey – taking samples of ocean water from around the world, working-up the first baseline for the amount of plastic pollution – I really wanted to help. I wanted to give something\u00a0back.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sailing mainly in the southern hemisphere via the Indian, Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans – as well as the Tasman Sea – aboard his 39 foot yacht Perie Banou<\/em> II, Jon will pump 50 litres of water through a filter every day as he makes his way east to west around the world, covering about 100 miles per day. He will bring the filters back home for analysis by Western Australia – Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre<\/em> (WA-OIGC) at Curtin University<\/a>, providing them with an accurate measure \u2013 for the first time \u2013 of the presence of microplastics throughout the remote locations of his route. These samples will form a baseline for all future measurements.<\/p>\n

Jon’s shore-based team recognise the opportunity to further raise awareness about the level of microplastics in our oceans to which end they have begun a campaign:\u00a0No Plastic Oceans.<\/a>\u00a0This initiative is being led\u00a0by Dr. Stephen Davis and Morgan Flower who have been working tirelessly – securing support from Curtin University, and third party organisations …Fremantle Sailing Club; Royal Perth Yacht Club; Nebo, B&G (Navico) & ClientSAT and a growing number of other sponsors.<\/p>\n

Jon plans to stop at 11 ports throughout his voyage. \u00a0A detailed report of Curtin University’s findings will be made publicly available after the voyage.<\/p>\n

For the journey Jon’s (nearly) 50 year-old Sparkman & Stephens<\/em>\u00a0yacht – which has already completed three circumnavigations\u00a0\u00a0– is being completely refitted …new sails; running rigging; deck hardware; aids to navigation; together with a new 12V power system …from batteries to inverter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At Victron Energy<\/em>, reliable, renewable power lies at the heart of everything we do …so we were delighted to be asked to\u00a0play a small role in Jon’s historic data-collecting voyage by donating the equipment which will provide him with power for his sensitive electronics, communications equipment, and for powering\u00a0everyday ‘domestic’ items.<\/p>\n

The equipment Jon will be taking with him on Saturday are typical for blue water cruising:<\/p>\n