Debris from Japan Tsunami
by Richard Ballantyne, July 12th, 2012
In addition to the usual location and wind conditions report at the Daily Roll Call, this year’s race has an added element – tsunami debris.
The March, 2011 tsunami that affected northern Japan washed enormous amounts of debris out to sea. While most of this debris sank quickly out at sea, much remains on the surface and by ocean current and wind is working its way across the Pacific Ocean. In early days, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could track the debris slick by satellite, but by early 2012, the debris had become too dispersed to track. News stories have reported containers with motorcycles on Haida Gwaii, whole fishing boats in Alaska, and sections of concrete dock in Oregon. Recent reports are about the struggles of local governments to deal with cleaning up and disposing of flotsam washing up on local beaches.
While the ocean is a big place, it is not uncommon to come across floating debris while crossing what has become to be known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. Material washed from boats and population centers gets trapped in a gyre of ocean currents that circulate to the north of the Hawaiian Islands. This is nothing new and boats going to Hawaii have had to deal with it for years. It is a sad reality that impacts the ocean and its denizens.
The Vic Maui 2012 race fleet has to contend not only with this normal debris, but the added density and danger from debris from the Japan Tsunami. The USDOT issued a warning in April that this debris may pose a significant hazard to navigation and advised mariners that they should be vigilant and maintain appropriate look-out, a warning repeated by the Vic Maui Technical Committee in Notice to Competitors No. 2.
In order to assist authorities and to provide a means of warning to fellow competitors a scale of observed debris was devised and is being reported during Daily Roll Call. This scale ranks observed debris from 0 to 5: 0=no debris, 1=occasional small and medium debris, 2=regular small and medium debris, 3=regular medium debris, occasional large debris, 4= regular debris of all sizes, 5=constant medium and large debris.
It is a relief that as of the July 11 Roll Call, debris has been mostly reported as 0 – no debris. However, out of 61 observations over 5 days, 34 have reported 1 – occasional small debris, and 2 have reported 2 - regular small and medium debris. More troubling have been the 5 observations of 3 – regular medium debris and occasional large debris. On July 11, Double Take further reported a large metal object 6 ft long as being “very scary”.
So far diligent watch keeping and luck have kept race participants from hitting any objects, and the boats are likely leaving the ocean current path that would have the greatest concentration.
But the story continues. Tons and tons of man-made garbage and debris is floating on our oceans posing real risks to sailors on the oceans and untold difficulty on the creatures and ecosystems that inhabit the ocean. Sad, sad, very sad.
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Annie M (2022)
Type: Amel Mango 52Skipper: John McCarthy
Port: Santa Fe, NM
Blog: 1 articles posted
The Annie M crew has a wealth of experience to contribute to the Vic-Maui 2022 race. John McCarthy, the captain of Annie M, is a lifelong sailor with experience racing Snipes and J24s, as well as cruising on a Swan 47 and, of course, an Amel 52, the Annie M. His boat has been beautifully restored and named after his beloved wife of 60 years.
Steve McCarthy brings years of racing and cruising experiences from sailing many seas. He’s also a sailmaker and, since 2004, owner of Hogin Sails located in Alameda, CA. In addition to working with sail lofts from Seattle to Santa Cruz, he has raced on Moore 24s and J24s and cruised on a Swan 47 across Europe. Our sails are in good hands with Steve as a sailor since he was a wee one.
Steve Summers is an instructor at Seattle Sailing Club, an Outward Bound teacher, and a National Outdoor Leadership teacher with experience sailing long voyages requiring an excellent ability to handle a variety of conditions and personalities. He’s also a Wilderness First Responder and a well-respected navigator in the Pacific Northwest. A calm soul called to the wild, Steve seeks adventure, and Vic-Maui is one of the adventures he’s ready to tackle.
Callum Hally is focused on sailing when the opportunity arises. In the past five years, he’s sailed more than 500 hours on a variety of boats such as a Catalina 22, J35c and an Andrew 53 to name a few. Through his previous job with Seattle Sailing Club supporting the customer’s experience, he became passionate about being on the water. He’s an excellent crew member with an insatiable thirst for reading, which makes him a fascinating conversationalist, wise beyond his years.
Bill Busch participated as “old goat’ status for Mackinaw races. He’s had a 1st place PHRf overall, 1st place in j105 class, 1st place j120 class. He’s looking forward to sailing a long ocean passage. He recently completed his International Offshore Safety program at St. Petersburg Florida Yacht Club. Bill is known for his kindness and patience.
Sarah Mackay, a lifelong sailor who learned at a young age the art of not getting seasick and never getting bored. She’s a crew member, communicator and, on occasion, cracker of jokes at which she’s the only one laughing. She has raced on J24s and J30s, crossed the North Sea and cruised throughout Europe on a Swan 47, and explored the Pacific Northwest on an Amel 52 named Annie M.
We are busy preparing the boat (and ourselves) for this epic journey. This year, Annie M will be entered in the Pacific NW Offshore Yacht Race and the Swiftsure Yacht Race leading up to our start date of the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race in early July.
