Cleaning Up Update 17
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Report by Johnathan Smith (Skipper)

Date: 17th July 2011 (ZT -10)
Position: Latitude: 36? 49.1’ North, Longitude: 158? 54.0’ West

Bula Viti kei Rotuma. Well the past couple of days have been pretty hectic for the Uto Ni Yalo and her crew. We are practically in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean with Alaska to our North, San Francisco to our east, Hawaii to our South and Japan to our West.

One of the reasons for this voyage is to practically show to the world how polluted and endangered our oceans are. We could sit in an office and make up reports, tables and statistics and graphs about what somebody else said about the ocean and climate change and all that depressing stuff, but we decided to take up the challenge and sacrifice and come out here 9,000 nautical miles travelled from Fiji, to see for ourselves what everyone keeps harping about.

When we left Fiji we were given a booklet to log all the rubbish we found out at sea while on the voyage; another to log all the fish we caught to eat ( type, weight, length, position); another to log the different birds, dolphins, whales, sharks etc.

IT IS SHOCKING here in the North Pacific. Our booklet for Rubbish is almost full again and we haven’t even reached San Francisco. The last couple of days since leaving Hawaii we tried to pick up as much rubbish as we can. We calling out all the rubbish we pass faster than whoever is logging can write. That’s how much rubbish is out here. From Nets to ropes to Tyres (with rim), 50kg gas bottles, toothbrushes, paint trays, plastic bottles, plastics you name it, it’s out here thousands of miles from any land.

For the big stuff we see that will endanger marine life like nets and big tangles of rope etc., we drop sails, put down the pods and pull them in. It takes us a good 15 to 20 min to do all that and be back up to full sail again but every minute is worth it for the whales, turtles, dolphins sharks etc.

Yesterday we had a man overboard. While on our rubbish pick-up spree, we were aiming for a fishing buoy and the crew were up on the bow net waiting. The fishing buoy came between the hulls but they missed it. Steven Tawake, who was at the stern managed to grab it but what he didn’t know was it was half filled with water. A fishing buoy is pretty light weight so that surprise extra weight caught Steven off balance and into the deep blue he went with the fishing buoy.

We managed to launch the life rings, flag dan buoy and maneuver the Uto Ni Yalo to get Steven back onboard. We had him back onboard within 5 minutes. Luckily the weather was pretty calm and the water wasn’t too cold. Steven was a bit shocked at first but recovered pretty quick.

Steven has many nick names from Beyonce’ (don’t ask) to Kung Fu Panda (don’t ask) and now after his man overboard experience Angelo has christened him “Captain Planet” he just wouldn’t let go of that fishing buoy and so to make sure we picked it up he sacrificed himself by going overboard with it. Now that’s what you call dedication to cleaning up the oceans. I don’t think he’d dare do that near Alaska though but never know - being Fijians, we’re known to do a lot of spur of the moment crazy things.

At home everyone keeps complaining about the price of fish when they go to the market. Maybe if we looked after the oceans starting with rubbish on land, keeping the ocean free of rubbish and pollution, fish stocks will come back. And with strict policing of fishing size, quotas etc., price of seafood won’t be expensive because there will be enough for everyone to enjoy.
Lets all clean up our backyard and live like how our ancestors lived, “in harmony with nature.”

From the Uto Ni Yalo out in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean on our way to San Francisco ..moce viti!
Vinaka
Johnathan Smith, Skipper

We would like to share some comments made in response to Update 16 - The Northern Pacific Garbage Patch

1. Would be nice to contact Project Kaisei people when you get to San Francisco, especially Mary Crowley who owns/operates Kaisei. One of her goals is to address the cleaning of the gyre area you are now sailing thru.
Good sailing and weather to all. Lolomas - Papa Piianaia

2. Thank you for this latest update and shared concern about the rubbish mass, surely one that goes down well below the surface into the water column.
However, excellent progress is clearly being made.
Best wishes to all
Robin Yarrow

3. Thank you for the update - interesting and informative. It was disheartning to learn of your first hand observation on the state of the ocean that you're sailing through. God speed and safe crossing to San Francisco.
Seremaia Tuqiri

4. thanx for the info guys..you really are making a revelation....!!! kip it up !!
Joe Uluilakeba

5. Vinaka vakalevu for the update. Safe voyage to all. Regards to Johnathan 'Skipper', Angelo 'rascol', and Ben 'kuka',
John Ah Tong
Kabul, Afghanistan

6. It's great to hear from the Uto Ni Yalo crew again. I'm awed and inspired by your enthusiasm when it comes to sailing on the vaka and flying the flag against pollution in the ocean and sustainability of our marine resources. We would like to wish you the best of luck in this next leg of your journey and look forward to more logs as you sail towards San Francisco.

May the winds be in your favour and may the stars safely guide you to your destination.

Loloma's & God Bless.

Kemu, Emily & Henry
Kensington, Melbourne

7. Thanks for the update
Paula Vuli

8. Thank you for the update and safe sailing. My prayers with you all. Loloma bibi from Kanavi street, Suva
Keka Robinson