Sailing: True eco-power

Robb Y    Lifestyle Activities, Water Sports     sailing

Sailing boats have been made from all types of material: wood, fiberglass, even aluminum. Well, have you ever seen a boat made from recycled plastic bottles?

The ‘Plastiki’ is the brainchild of expedition leader David Rothschild, and is constructed of 12,500 plastic bottles. Devised not as a gimmick, but to be good enough to sail around the world, the ship was tested to the full on a recent 8,000-mile ocean voyage. It left San Francisco in March heading west into the Pacific, and at the end of July arrived in Australia. On route the ship and its crew visited Hawaii, Bikini Atoll, the Gilbert Islands and Fiji.

Even though its design is very different from that of regular boats, it still needed the skills of the mariner and the wind to generate speed. So while other craft turn to diesel power, sailing boats like the Plastiki use eco-power, and still manage to skip across the waves at a decent lick of knots.

Novice sailors often start on much smaller craft – some with just a crew of one or two. Nonetheless, learning to understand how the wind can be harnessed and how to set a sail is vital on boats of all sizes. It is these elementary skills that unite sailors the world over and help keep this age-old sport alive.

Sailing trips are available around the coast and on lakes throughout the US. Some include practical sailing skills, while others are purely for leisure. Perhaps someone you know would like to learn?  Or you’ve a relative who used to sail? No doubt either would be happy with a gift certificate to help them set their own sails.

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