Environment

Ocean gyres concentrate plastic pollution in five main areas of the world's ocean and various research groups are bringing back alarming data documenting plastics impacts for the seas' fauna and flora. For some years, a number of sea protection organisations have been organising beach cleaning campaigns in spring every year, where thousands of tons of plastic garbage is collected. This year, almost 1'000 actions have been announced. The first ones will begin on the coming weekend. A report.

All participants of the Vendée Globe mentioned in their daily reports the first Albatrosses escorting them on their way across the Soutern Oceans. The English sailing icon Ellen MacArthur GBR has been speaking up for the protection of the endangered water birds since the end of her racing career. In addition to the threat of the up to 150 km long nets of commerical fishing, it is above all the floating plastic garbage hurting the Albatrosses. In 80 % of the stomacs of dead birds is plastic litter. A movie concerning this problem will be published this autumn. Here the trailer.

Maritime NZ are reporting this morning that the 130metre stern section of the MV 'Rena' is reported to be slipping off the Astrolabe Reef. They have previously stated that if this happens they expect the section to sink, following up the section breaking off over the weekend. The two sections that were shown as visibly cracked, split in two, and were reported to be 30 meters apart. That break up released cargo, containers and oil - a situation that will be repeated if the stern section sinks. Of concern to the sailing community is the fact that the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will pass down the east coast of the North Island in two months time. Many of the containers are not accounted for from the 'Rena', and have either sunk or are still in varying degrees of submersion. The article with a video clip in Sail World.

Not much wind on Sunday too on Lake Zurich and only two final races could be sailed. In the 470s, the 'oldies' Stefan Seger (ISAF Youth World Champion 1984) with Dominik Liener were the winners, in the 29ers, Sandra Giovanoli/Stefan Beer took the first place. 36 teams in total participated in the CO2-immission-free regatta with everybody arriving in Zurich by train and tramway. The report with rankings.

24 470 teams and 11 29er-teams travelled to Zurich yesterday with public transport facilities to sail the 'Climate Race' on 470s and 29ers put at the disposal of the teams by the organisers - sailing without CO2 immisions ! But the wind energy was not on its best level and only two qualification heats could be sailed late in the afternoon. The interims leaders are in the 470s Seger/Liener TYC and in the 29ers Giovanoli/Beer SCStä. The best ranked 470s and the six best 29ers qualify for the final races. The report.

The tropical storm 'Irene', now classified as a Category 3 hurricane, which was ravaging the Bahamas on Wednesday, could make landfall in eastern North Carolina on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. 'Irene' is the first massive hurricane of the season that might bring a more than normal storm activity. A report and the website of the National Hurricane Center with more details.

1,3 mio tons of plastic produced world-wide ends up in the Oceans annually, finally concentrating in one of the Earth's five great ocean garbage patches. Breaking into smaller and smaller pieces, some pieces end up in plankton and algae, or drift to the ocean floor. Others are mistaken for food by turtles. The stomach content of a juvenile sea turtle accidentally captured off the coast of Argentina, contained 74 plastic objects. (Image). Like so many environmental problems, ocean plastic seems overwhelming. But countries like China, South Africa and Thailand are already taxing or banning single-use plastic bags, which pose the greatest threat to turtles. A report.

As Tropical Storm Danielle dissipates in the North Atlantic, the East Coast of the U.S. is bracing for a brush with Hurricane Earl. Earl is now a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 135 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch is in effect for the southeastern Bahamas.The center of Earl will continue to move away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands this morning and move over the open Atlantic east of the Turks and Caicos. Tropical storm force winds extend as far as 200 miles. The hurricane center warns that interests from the Carolinas northward to New England should monitor the progress of Earl. Complete report in Trade Only Today.
Check out the NOAA's storm page to get a read on the predicted track of the season's second major hurricane that looks like it will be rolling up the eastern seaboard from Florida to Newfoundland. You might find value in playing with the animations on the tracking page by Sailing Weather Service where you can zoom in over the Chesapeake or New England.