60 - Sailing S/V Julia: Part 3 - We Got Stuck in the Pacific Garbage Patch!

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Our second passage across the Pacific Ocean finally begins! San Francisco Bay gifted us a lovely fog to get started and off we went back out under the Golden Gate Bridge. The first few days at sea were a bit rough as we sailed upwind to avoid some nasty weather to the south of us.

When we were finally able to turn and head towards the trade winds, we found ourselves smack in the middle of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. And sure enough, Julia got hooked on several large pieces of fishing net. Jumping into the middle of the ocean to free the props was one of the most nerve-wracking moments I've had on a boat, but fortunately the seas were calm and everything went okay.

For those curious about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and what you can do to reduce your impact on Ocean Pollution, here are a few links:

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Thanks for watching!

(Footage from May/June 2017)

Music Thanks To:

Kontinuum - Lost (feat. Savoi) [NCS Release]
Kontinuum

Savoi (vocalist)

Konac - Home [NCS Release]
Konac

Jim Yosef - Canary [NCS Release]
Jim Yosef

[OutChasingStars]

For all those wondering why I didn't pull the netting on board... I did actually hold on to the net for a few seconds after freeing it which you can't see as it happened while I was still under the boat. Unfortunately, the net was large enough that it had a lot of drag pulling it and me away from my safety line. Since I was already worried about being separated from the boat while not wearing fins, I made the split second decision to let the net go.


So we do try, but I'm not willing to risk my safety, especially in the middle of a very vast ocean.

[jayfixesthings]

Thanks for the links. I've heard about the garbage patch but never seen it.. it's a gross place. To bad we can't send a garbage boat out there that could scoop it up and take it somewhere safe.

[goldwing]

Great video, tough topic. we can all do better. I have to stop buying cases of drinking water. Great job guys, love the sailing videos the best!

[MrLikeke]

Heading for Honolulu out of Monterey we got a 'ghost net' wrapped on the prop and shaft. Decided to wait until daylight to dive on it. Not just the net but a 3/16 SS wire had to be cut away. You had overcast day but we had sunny skies so the blue water was incredible. Visibilty was infinite. It occurred that with nothing but the boat as a reference, vis could have been 2 feet for all I know. Amazing every shade of blue and purple out there where it's clean.

[michaelteeple]

The bigger makers of plastic need to help fund a clean up for sure. Always teach the kids to pick up what we can when out on the boat. Every little bit cant hurt i guess.

[scin]

Cute dog. Is that your new family member? cute. The Pacific Garbage Patch is so depressing. It makes me so ashamed of being a human. Hopefully, we will find a solution to this soon.

[oldtimersadvice]

Awesome video I am very jealous... well what I am trying to say is I get seasick easy so I am glad you are taking me along via video.

[jkempire]

U know what?? Id love to see the entire borders and customs process, also the fuel dock and all the bits and pieces that might be hard to learn through the books.

[mikesawyer]

Tough work removing debris from a prop/rudder in the middle of the ocean in a swell...had to do the same on a Helia 44 in the Caribbean, which was tough...couldn't imagine doing it as quickly as you did in the middle of the Pacific in 68 degree water.  Thanks Amy and David!

[paulswan]

Hey cool I got a first post.... LOL. nice to see you 2 again.

[JBulsa]

Ocean clean up start ups will have all that cleaned up in a few short years.

[janalton]

Great video!! I agree you did an excellent job of presenting the issue of pollution - if even one person "packs it out" as a result, you will have helped make a difference.

[MrLikeke]

5:38 When you said, "This is exactly why I really like having AIS..." I was saying those same exact words. I won't bore with the details but AIS would have been great help in the Santa Barbara channel. Things get weird there what with ships doing the unexpected even though there be TSS. No where else have I known such terror.

[allynonderdonk]

I sincerely hope that David has his own "Captain David" Nike brand Polo Shirt! You two should have matching crew shirts! Nice save on the netting on the boat! David you rock! It really is sad about all the plastics in the ocean. The really unfortunate thing is that most of it comes from Asia. Most countries in the Pacific Rim on the Asian side have absolutely no trash disposal mechanism in place. No garbage dumps, no trucks that come by and get the garbage, etc. So where do they put the garbage? Straight in the ocean! The only way we can save the oceans the majority of that garbage is to convince Asian countries to invest in a means of garbage collection for ALL their citizens, not just a select few. Perhaps garbage collection is just a luxury afforded to wealthy nations?? <That is sarcasm folks.>

[heliophil]

You should bring the trash on board instead of letting it go, help the oceans!

[stephenferguson]

Yea I agree on the plastic, but the sanami in Japan the other year washed a Hugh amount of trash and plastic in the ocean to wash up on the us coast for years to come.

[morpheq]

Are those the new owners with you or just crew to help out? I must have missed it previously.

[moz]

good on you guys for highlighting the plastic problem

[SteveWrightNZ]

Theres lots of biodegradable plastics now..

[juangarcia]

Agreed, there are some American's and Canadians guilty of polluting our ocean, however, you;ll need to be speaking Mandarin and Japanese to be getting to the real culprits of the crime.