The Trash Dump
25 April 2011 | 30 52'N:143 33'W, Pacific Gyre
Lynn
We have been cruising thru the Pacific High for 2 days now, and what you have read or heard, is true. This section of water is full of plastic trash! Sections of net, plastic bottles,plastic crates, nylon rope, floats from nets and longliners even a black plastic 5 gallon pot, like you get from the nursery. Then below the water, small clumps of plastic everywhere. I ceased fishing in here as I feel the fish could be toxic if they ingess this crap. Luck out yesterday when a 10 section of old plastic rope got caught on the rudder. We took her out of gear and was able to grap it with the boat hook, close one! A sad indicator of how wasteful we are, and the out of sight out of mind attitude we have as far as dumping our waste.
Happier news......we have wind! around 6 am the wind came up and we have all sails afly'n! Speed kick up to 6 knots, wind is around 10 kts or so on a close reach. In otherwords, the wind is coming just off our bow, course steady at 56 degrees straight for Morro Bay. Not enough wind to shut down the motor but the increase in speed out weighs the noisey engine.
We had a nice Easter dinner, bbq chicken in a red wine vinegerett, rice and veggies. tasty and we actually a nice table in the cockpit, a glass of wine and a fantastic sunset. Thanks for all your well wishes! goforbroke@ocens.net