Onboard the Plastiki raft --exclusive photos

Getting to visit the Plastiki in water was a special privilege, and great fun.

Hope you enjoy these photos.

Regards,
Michael

We first went down a steep gangplank to a rickety dock, where a rubber boat was waiting.

As we approached the Plastiki, it looked very different than before

Upclose, seeing the recycled bottles in the raft construction was also very different

Getting onboard the Plastiki required a helping hand...

Once onboard, you can even bicycle --and generate electricity for the raft!

The kitchen isn''t deluxe, and most of the food is dried

And there are no queen or king-sized beds, and no room service!

Here I am, shakily on the deck but proving I was there....

What an incredible adventure!!!

Michael -

It is a thrill to see you taking part in this amazing adventure. Love you "deck shoes". I really like the materials used - the interior seems eclectic and functional - and recyclable.

We had some issues today in Newport Beach and Marina Del Rey where several boats with significant draft hit bottom with the tsunami (tide surge) from the Chilean earthquake. Some marine damage to keels and dockage.

What, no shots of you pedaling Michael??

Thanks for the photos. The hull is narrower than I would have thought.

Cheers from the cellar

Really cool photos. Looks like fun. nt

Cool stuff! Thank you MF

thanks for all your updates!

Thanks for all the pictures, Michael. Can't say I>

envy them taking on such a voyage in that boat, it looks cramped and basic, but good luck to DdR and the crew. Let's hope the publicity begins to make a difference to all that waste plastic.

Ross

Thank you Michael

quite an experience, any interviews?
Any chances to get the featured IWC gear?

Argiris

Waste plastic

I also hope this project makes a difference. But I think this is more like preaching in your own church, I really would be surprised if the message came through to the polluters. Maybe the message comes through to governments and regulators or so, that see it as a starting point to take action. Never shot is always a miss, so good luck to the messengers.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch

Very cool! Great posts Michael

Thanks for the tour of Plastiki, Michael....

...It's Great to go on these adventures with you.

...You just need some Boat Shoes before setting sail.

...Great Photos!!!

Best,

-Joe

Fascinating inside view of a great adventure to

come. Thanks for all the photos!

I tried, but...

Hi Greg,

Being an avid bicyclist (like century rider) in a former life, almost the first thing that I did was hop on the recumbent bike on the raft. But the seat kept sliding backwards --one thing to fix before departure!

Everyone talked about how a crew of six will survive in such close quarters for so long --the voyage should take more than four months if the raft averages 4 or 5 knots per hour. Even with a few refueling stops, there's not a lot of space for everyone. I'm not sure bicycling, even if also productive, will be a sufficient diversion.

To my thinking, the great adventure will be the social dynamics among the crew --all of whom seem well-grounded and personable.

Regards,
Michael

on interviews....

I did record two one minute video clips of a private interview that I and two journalists had with David. If I can figure out some of the technical issues, I'll post them here. The rest of the information I plan to use as background for future posts, replies to questions, etc.

By the way, I was amazed that he and Katie --his p.r. person and the woman bicycling on the deck--remembered me from December 2008, when there was the first press conference.

On gear --alas, there was nothing available for anyone. Except Plastiki Expedition Ingenieurs --which of course can be bought at an authorized dealer ,)

Regards,
Michael

Are they going to wear these watches?

In a way I think these watches are too beautiful for the rough and tumble on board, and maybe a bit too big to be practical: a cheap smaller plastic watch would be better maybe. I read on the German sister forum that the Apollo astronauts of the past were supposed to wear their Omega Speedmasters, but they often did not, wearing their own watches.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch

absolutely, yes.....

...and the crew really likes them --not as a matter of luxury. They also plan to use them in case their navigation systems fail --they will have a sextant on board and realize the role of timekeeping in that context. Plus they would prefer to be as battery independent as possible which excludes a lot of cheap watches. I suspect they don't mind scratches as much as you do and consider these as tool watches (an historical term).

I have no idea what the Apollo astronauts really wore and, regardless, what were their true motivations.

Thanks for the pics of the...

Plastiki, Michael! It will be a fantastic adventure and you were there to see them off....very cool!

Best regards,
Jim

Thrilling adventure! Thank you Michael! nt