Ocean Cruising Club supports the new coastal clean-up initiative

Marine plastic pollution © RYA

OCC Member Steve Brown, s/y Novara, has organised an effort to help sailors collect, recycle and report plastics removed from oceans and coasts where they cruise. "We believe the Earth's Oceans should be clean and safe for all life. We are committed to preventing the damage done by plastic and other waste by cleaning up coastlines and encouraging changes to waste disposal worldwide. We know that it can be done and we are certain that it is the right thing to do," said Steve when asking for the support of the OCC.

Daria Blackwell, Rear Commodore responded, "As ocean cruisers, there are few people on the planet more keenly aware of the state of our oceans and the urgent need to clean them up in order to protect the earth's wildlife and secure our own futures. We've seen plastic polluting the waters wherever on earth we have sailed. On behalf of our members, Ocean Cruising Club supports the efforts of the Coastal Clean-Up Campaign and urges all members and friends to get involved. After all, clean oceans start with us."

The website is now live and includes a form for cruisers to log what they collect and where they collect it, this is added to a database that can be used in the future to analyse what we find - www.coastalcleanup.net

They are asking for no government funding, no sponsorship nor even donations. They are hoping to enlist the help of the rally organisers and cruising associations around the world in support of the initiative and each year will see the relaunch to the next wave of cruising sailors. The website is now live and the initiative is being spearheaded by the boats taking part in the OCC Suzie Too Rally sailing in the Western Caribbean. Suzanne Chappell the organiser of the 2nd OCC Suzie Too Rally from Curacao to Panama has confirmed the participation of the 60 yachts and their crews in the Coastal Clean-up initiative.

This is something that can be achieved but needs the involvement of cruising sailors the world over. If you would like more information or to sign up to help then please contact Steve at .

This article has been provided by the courtesy of the Ocean Cruising Club.