112 year old Schooner! Now THAT'S a classic.

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Thats really cool that they make kayaks out of the plastic they collect!

I pick up plastic out of the ocean whenever I can, which is usually when we are in the dinghy or kayaks.

We don't see large plastic items in our waters very much since we are not expose to open ocean, although we do find large chunks of Styrofoam from people's docks.

This summer we were paddling around and I spotted a plastic bag in the water. As I was paddling in to grab it a pair of Oystercatchers came rushing down to the edge of the water fiercely chattering at me! They were bravely guarding their little islet from all comers and weren't backing down! I grabbed the bag and left them in peace.

If you zoom up in the little point you can see the feisty little pair.

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Went about 1/2 mile out of my way to "save" a 7' mylar balloon man that appeared to be waving at me.

 

Same here. We were on passage, from Block Island to Montauk, which is a bit off the coast and see what resembles a person in a life jacket. Far enough away that binoculars could not make out clearly, so we diverted. My wife was truly paniced that we'd recover a dead body. There wasn't a soul in sight. It turned out to be a black and orange mylar balloon.

I've never seen a plastic straw or grocery bag in the water, but we've all but banned them. I've seen these balloons for decades. Typical feel good approach that doesn't address the actual problem. Worse, we're just cutting down more trees, to make paper bags and straws. Floating party balloons should just go away.

 

If I'm not racing, usually. I have seen small water bottles but it's not uncommon to see bigger things, like mylar balloons. One time we fetched a big flower arrangement out of Long Island Sound, which has considerable current. I don't know if it was a memorial, it looked like something from a wedding, but the near dead flowers were held together with plastic.

 

We nearly always try to pick up plastic if we see it in the water when we're sailing. We're almost never in a rush and it is a great opportunity to practice our MOB skills (if you can find your way back quickly to a floating soda bottle you ought to be able to find your way back to a bobbing head too).

~f


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When out, we usually make a valiant effort to "fish" out everything we can, as we keep a fishing net handy just in case. Usually we find water bottles, and a rare balloon. The real challenge was a tire still mounted on a rim, it made for a great MOB practice. My boat is on the hard in a restoration, so it's the decision of the boat captain I am crewing on for a ride, they all make it a priority to pick up trash.

 

When out, we usually make a valiant effort to "fish" out everything we can, as we keep a fishing net handy just in case. Usually we find water bottles, and a lot of balloons. It makes for a great MOB practice.

What he said^ ( edited to match my case a little more closely.)

 

Just Google "plastic in whale stomach" and you will be shocked at how common it is for dead whales to be found having ingested huge amounts of plastic.

I am all for banning single use plastics of any kind, even something as small as straws. We are a smart enough species to come up with sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Industry just needs a push to make it happen.

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