North Pacific I: Hawaii to Vancouver

We begin in Hawaii. It should feel like paradise and in many ways it does. But the beaches here collect plastic from across the Pacific, carried in on currents from thousands of miles away. Already, before we’ve even set sail, the ocean is making the case for the journey ahead.

Setting sail, we head north into the open ocean on a challenging three-week crossing towards one of the world’s most significant and sobering destinations. The North Pacific Gyre is the largest ecosystem on Earth, and at its heart lies the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is the densest ocean plastic accumulation zone on the planet, where currents conspire to concentrate what the world has thrown away. We sail into the centre of it, sampling as we go, gathering data that will sit alongside eXXpedition’s 2018 findings from these same waters. What has changed in a decade? What hasn’t?

We arrive in Vancouver having crossed three thousand nautical miles of ocean with a dataset that connects this vast, remote place to the choices being made on land, every day, everywhere.

S/V Sea Dragon is a 72ft, 90,000lb displacement steel hulled sailing vessel built in the UK in 2000. She is one of 11 yachts built for the Global Challenge Race – one of the longest, most demanding ocean voyages ever made with an upwind, west-about 32,000km circumnavigation.

The boat provides a superb platform for rugged capability, capacity, and efficiency with a naturally low environmental footprint. The British Maritime and Coastal Agency rate Sea Dragon to the highest standard of Category 0 All Oceans. Designed to thrive in the Southern Ocean and safely handle the world’s worst sailing conditions, the boat is also specifically set up for volunteer crew with limited sailing experience while reaching cruising speeds of up to 10 knots – she is a genuine ocean explorer.

Sea Dragon can accommodate up to 11 guest crew in comfortable sea berths. There are two heads with showers, a large well-stocked galley, and a comfortable salon with seating for the entire crew. With extensive sails, fresh-water making, tenders, medical supplies and almost 1kw of wind/solar power, the boat is equipped with everything needed for extended passage making are remote exploration.