12 items found for ""
- Track our Journey!
We've finally added a tracker to the website! It works best on desktop but there's a link to a nice mobile view on the PredictWind website. Until the 27th September it suggests out latest location is Vancouver but it's a bug! Just look at the prior point for the latest ;-) On the tracker map we have a second blog with updates on where and when we've contributed to science projects and other fun things like that.
- Adventures in Citizen Science
We shared our story and plans with the members of the Bluewater Cruising Association in Currents Magazine this month. There’s a heated debate ensuing on the deck of Freeranger . The point in question is whether we should be using ‘the big’ or ‘the small’ weight to maximise our chance of success. Around us other boats aren’t waiting around. Bobbing away in the midday sun, whoops of glee and calls of “fish on” can be heard as everyone makes the most of the newly opened Coho season. The fish are biting. The FOMO is real. But we’re not there for the fish. We’re figuring out how to take a depth reading for the Secchi Disk citizen science project – a study of phytoplankton changes in the world’s oceans – and our Secchi Disk won’t sink properly thanks to the current. “We could just get fishing and tell the Department of Fisheries about the size of anything we catch for their study instead” says our seven-year-old eyeing up his rod and lucky lure hopefully. But conditions are otherwise perfect, and we’re keen to take our first Secchi depth reading as one of many citizen science projects we’ll be contributing to on our world voyage.... - READ the full story here!
- Shakedown month
July has been an action-packed month for us aboard Freeranger as we settle into our liveaboard life and put new systems and equipment through its paces. We've sailed over 350 miles with highlights including the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Campbell River, and the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia so far. The marine and wildlife has been incredible. We've spotted dozens of bird species including bald eagles, turkey vultures, loons, cormorants, herons, gulls and more. At sea we've watched Steller sealions, sea otters, river otters, humpback whales, porpoises, white-sided dolphins and plenty of jumping salmon! Deer, mink, Douglas squirrels but as yet no bears! Along the way we are contributing our cetacean sightings to the Ocean Wise’s Sighting Network using the WhaleReport app to support important conservation-based research. And we've started submitting depth readings to the Secchi Disk study to help researchers understand the impact of climate change on phytoplankton . It's a unique global study, and the kids love it because they get to use an app on the iPad to submit our results. We ordered 5 kits in May and hope to be able to share them with other boaters we meet along the way who also want to join in! If you'd like one let us know! The public science project measures the amount of phytoplankton - minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain - currently residing in the world’s oceans. To check the levels of phytoplankton in our ocean, they've developed a simple piece of equipment that you can order or make yourself and a free smart phone app for sailors and fishermen to use wherever they are in the world. We are at anchor in a charming place called Sointula which aptly means “place of harmony” in Finnish. This charming seaside town on sprawling Malcolm Island was established as a community in 1901 when a colony of Finnish settlers arrived with utopian dreams of building the perfect community. While that vision was derailed within a decade, there’s no question these visionaries chose the right place for a fresh air and salt water paradise on earth! We'll do some provisioning at BC’s longest running cooperative general store, formed as the Sointula Co-operative Store Association in 1909 before heading over to Port Hardy in the coming days.
- Chapter 1: Cruising BC
We set sail from Royal Victoria Yacht Club on Wednesday 10 July 2024! Ahead of departure we picked up equipment for some exciting research projects we’ll be contributing to along the way - watch this space! Our shakedown sailing this summer will see us honing skills on some new systems and getting ready for our first offshore to San Francisco in September. We were joined by 37 friends and family at Scott Point, Saltspring Island to celebrate this milestone in our big adventure. 💙
- Endorsed as UN Ocean Decade activity
The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, better known as the Ocean Decade , is a shared global effort that builds on decades of achievements in ocean science. We are delighted that our plans and activities for Free Range Ocean have been endorsed by the Ocean Decade today - on the eve of our our voyage it's a real honour to be recognised for our mission to use adventure sailing, citizen science and storytelling to inspire action for a healthy ocean among boating and coastal communities. The vision of the Ocean Decade is 'The science we need for the ocean we want', and we look forward to supporting transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean over the coming weeks, months, years! During our journey we plan to do three things... 1) To use FREERANGER as a testbed and showcase for innovative and accessible research-based or green-operational technologies, 2) to contribute to, and enable other boaters to take part in, the smorgasbord of citizen science projects around the world that urgently need support from sea-going folk, and 3) to host local early-career researchers and communicators in the countries we visit with a Freerange Fellowship programme that gives them career-propelling firsthand field experience, something that is often a barrier to pursuing a career in this important work. The end goal? To inform, inspire and enable others to have their own positive impact on our ocean with an 'everyone, and every action counts' philosophy. Check out our citizen science directory of ocean projects here! Are we missing any? Let us know so we can add them. Thanks to all who are helping us to bring this project to life! Larissa, Duncan, Eden and Skye! ddd ffare tangible initiatives and endeavors that will be identified, implemented and supported by a wide range of partners throughout the Decade.
- Young explorers field trip
On 6th June 2024 we welcomed 21 Grade 1 and 2 children from Willow's Elementary School for an ocean exploration and citizen science day with FREERANGER at Oak Bay Marina. In the morning the class learned about nautical letter flags which used in maritime communication to represent individual letters of the alphabet. Each flag has a unique design, allowing sailors to send messages and signals across distances, enhancing safety and coordination at sea. The kids practised spelling their names with the flag letters! Here's a great nautical flag activity sheet we used! We chose to keep FREERANGER at Oak Bay Marina, in part, because it is a recognised "Clean Marina". This certification highlights its commitment to environmental stewardship. This designation is part of a broader Clean Marina Program aimed at reducing pollution and promoting sustainable practices in marinas and boating facilities. Key aspects of a clean marina include: Pollution Prevention: Implementing measures to prevent contaminants like oil, fuel, and sewage from entering the water. This often involves the use of spill prevention kits, regular maintenance of boats and equipment, and educating boaters on best practices. Waste Management: Proper disposal and recycling of waste materials, including hazardous substances. Marinas provide designated areas for waste collection and recycling to minimize environmental impact. Water Quality: Regular monitoring and maintenance of water quality to ensure a healthy marine environment. This can include measures like installing bilge water filtration systems and encouraging the use of eco-friendly cleaning products. Habitat Protection: Efforts to protect and preserve the natural habitat around the marina. This can involve creating buffer zones, protecting local wildlife, and promoting the use of native plants in landscaping. Education and Outreach: Providing information and resources to boaters and the community about sustainable boating practices and environmental conservation. This includes workshops, informational signage, and collaboration with local environmental organisations. Facility Management: Ensuring that all marina facilities are designed and operated in an eco-friendly manner. This includes using energy-efficient lighting, maintaining clean and safe docks, and implementing water conservation measures. We took the kids down to the docks where we'd set up a station where we investigated marine life with nets and buckets. The kids learned all about the marina's "sea bin" - an innovative device designed to help clean up marine environments by collecting floating debris, microplastics, and oil from the water's surface. We watched all kinds of debris being collected in this awesome floating garbage bin! Later, the kids took a tour of FREERANGER and we used a scavenger hunt activity to talk about clean energy, water use and responsible cruising and shoreside lifestyles. A great day all round!
- A Closer Look! Dockside Citizen Science with Dr Elaine Humphrey
Between May 17-20th we sailed Freeranger to Telegraph Harbour, Thetis Island, BC. We were to take part in the Bluewater Cruising Association rendevous rally and share an update with participating boaters about our plans to sail off into the wide blue yonder with the intention of exploring the world and undertaking some Citizen Science Projects . It was a wonderful event and there was much discussion about our plans and new citizen science ocean directory along with tips and advice on practical actions boaters could take to green their time on the water. We're especially grateful for the incredible "Leavers Kit" the BCA Fleet presented us with that was packed with loads of useful goodies from a fire blanket to a USB lighter, clamps, laminated emergency procedures and so much more! One morning we joined in on the session "Microscopy with Elaine". It was a hands-on session to check out what's on and around the dock, learn some citizen science, and enjoy discovering more about our rich coastal waters! Such a fascinating experience to use nets to scoop alongside the dock and little loupes to see some of the incredible creatures living in the water. Dr Elaine Humphrey of University Victoria has a tabletop scanning electron microscope (SEM) that Hitachi gave her to go into schools for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs. When COVID struck Elaine couldn’t go into schools but UVic made available a license for Zoom with 300 connections and remote control. Now she is able to connect to schools even in remote areas. With our plans to be sailing remote areas of the world and with Starlink on board it should be possible to connect with the SEM from anywhere. A few of the organisms that Rendezvous participants collected from the dock at Telegraph Harbour Marina are going to be the subject when we test out the system from FREERANGER! BCA members and BCA friends, especially those who were at the Rendezvous, are invited to connect as well. Please join Eden of Free Range Ocean and Elaine for this unique Zoom session on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 3:30-4:30pm PST (Vancouver) Email us to request the zoom link!
- Ocean Cruising Club talk
We're honoured to be invited to speak at the Ocean Cruising Club 70th Anniversary West Coast celebrations at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, BC, Canada on May 11th 2024. It's a fantastic full day of activities including talks by Duncan and Larissa, plus the opportunity to visit Freeranger on the docks at Royal Victoria Yacht Club. We're giving two presentations on the day. 1:15pm Combating world illegal fishing, where and who it is impacting, global governance and its surprising gaps, innovative solutions, and how cruisers can be better aware of and contribute positively to the issue. 2:30pm Sailors know all too well the challenges our ocean faces from human activity - but what to do about it? Can we, as individuals, really make a difference? Learn about the smorgasbord of citizen science projects around the world that urgently need participation from sailors and sea-going folk, and how you can personally collect and contribute to these rewarding projects as you cruise. Duncan is a member of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), an international organisation for blue water sailors, specifically those who have completed a continuous ocean passage of at least 1,000 nautical miles. Founded in 1954, the OCC provides a network for experienced sailors to share knowledge, experiences, and camaraderie. Tickets: https://www.oceancruisingclub.org/Events
- Our Ocean Citizen Science Directory is live!
We are thrilled that our ocean citizen science directory for boaters & coastal communities is live on www.freerangeocean.org! This has been a brilliant project to work on with some incredible volunteers around the world. Special thanks to: Beth Dunstan, Hugo Vancraen, Sara Marolt for your hugely valuable contributions in the design and project research Martine Warburton @ Huskii Studio for the beautiful brand identity and design Duncan @ Phoe Design for being the YES man of coding and development Ben Schwartz for wordsmithing magic with the projects The idea came about as we were increasingly asked by people who spend time on and by the water for tips on ways they can contribute to marine research or have a more positive impact. There are so many amazing citizen science projects people can take part in wherever they are, but they don't know how or where to start. Over the years we've come across lots of projects but no doubt there are tonnes more. We decided to pull the projects we knew about or had researched into a free directory that can be accessed easily online. The first version is now live and we will continue to add to it as we discover new projects. It's a great development for our plans to use our non-profit, Free Range Ocean, and our sailboat Freeranger as a platform for ocean science and storytelling through sailing journeys. So far we've already contributed to a global ocean survey during a transpacific delivery in 2023 and have some other exciting voyages/expeditions on the horizon. At talks and events people seem so keen to take action and we hope this will helpful. Find a project that's right for you!
- Volunteer position: Ocean Citizen Science Directory
Volunteer position: Would you like to help us compile a citizen science directory for boaters/coastal communities? I'm increasingly asked by people who spend time on and by the water for tips on ways they can contribute to marine research or have a more positive impact. There are so many amazing citizen science projects people can take part in wherever they are, but they don't know how or where to start. Over the years I've come across lots of projects but no doubt there are tonnes more. I'd like to pull the opportunities together in a simple directory (or pdf or map or or or) that can be freely and easily available. In the spring we set up a non-profit called Free Range Ocean which uses sailboat Freeranger as a platform for science and storytelling through sailing journeys. So far we've used it to contribute to a global ocean survey during a transpacific and have some other exciting voyages/expeditions on the horizon. At talks and events people seem so keen to take action and I feel like this would be helpful. If anyone is interested in getting involved to develop the idea further please let me know! Larissa // DM or email: hello@freerangeocean.org p.s. I'm cruising in BC, Canada but you could be based anywhere to contribute.
- North Pacific: Changes in the pelagic ecosystem
As part of the Free Range Ocean transpacific voyage from New Zealand to Canada in 2023 we undertook a project to support a multi-institutional project, funded by NASA and including the University of Hawaii, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington, Smithsonian Institution and Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Aim: The project is to study changes in the pelagic ecosystem induced by the growing amounts of man-made debris floating in the ocean. This debris provides a new, long-living substrate that creates a sustained “floating” ecosystem in the otherwise low-nutrients environment. The idea of the project resulted from the discovery of hundreds of Asian coastal species that crossed the North Pacific with the debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan. The project includes: tracking real debris, deployment of a set of Lagrangian instruments, and collection of biological samples. Observations will allow us to improve drift models of various types of debris, from fishing nets to microplastics. Satellite trackers tagging large floating items will enable removal of these debris from the ocean and detailed sampling of biota colonizing these items. Free Range Ocean participation: The passage plan for Freeranger would take the crew through the North Pacific and close to or through the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ – the densest accumulation zone of marine debris in the world. With our support, they had an opportunity to support the research by carrying and if possible deploying up to two trackers if the conditions and opportunity are appropriate. In Honolulu ahead of departure the crew took on board two trackers and made plans to document phenomena as slicks and windrows (aggregations of seafoam, seaweeds, plankton and natural debris that appear on the ocean surface), bacterial blooms, assemblages of neuston (small aquatic organisms inhabiting the surface layer or moving on the surface film of water) and identifiable debris. The crew observed much marine debris during the voyage (which can be seen as micro plastics and micro fibres in the water sample data) plus larger floating items, but it was not possible to deploy the tracker due to the sea state and lack of opportunities for significant enough sized debris within the range of 30 – 38 degrees N. It was a reminder of how difficult it is to get this kind of data at sea and why citizen science projects like these are so important.
- Free Range Ocean inaugural mission
To celebrate World Ocean Day 2023 we’re happy to report that a donation from Another World Adventures contributed towards the development our new ocean conservation not-for-profit called Free Range Ocean and the first of its many exciting projects. Free Range Ocean is a UK-registered not-for-profit organisation founded in 2023 to inspire action for our ocean through adventure, science and storytelling. The first Free Range Ocean initiative took place this spring 2023. Project: TransPacific Dates: 86 days between March and May 2023 Vessel: Freeranger (Beneteau 50 Celebration sailboat) Passage: Sailing over 7,500nm across the Pacific Ocean, from Whangamata, New Zealand to Victoria, Canada via French Polynesia and Hawaii. An international crew undertook two citizen science projects during a vessel delivery with the aim of contributing data from hard to reach places offshore to global research projects. Free Range Ocean Skipper: Mark Griffiths Crew New Zealand > French Polynesia > Hawaii: Bryce Thurston & Bernadette Marcon Crew Hawaii > Victoria, BC: Elle Burke & Adam Eason Onshore Direction & Logistics: Larissa Clark & Duncan Copeland The first of two projects they were able to support with remote data sampling was the Global Oceanic Environmental Survey – A collaborative data collection project coordinated by the GOES Foundation. Aim and background: More than 60% by mass of all animals and plants in the oceans are under 1mm in size and they have been almost completely ignored by climate scientists, this is surprising because they control our climate, atmosphere and are the life support system for the entire planet. By way of example, there are more cells of a plant call Prochlorococcus than there are grains of sands, and the mass of small animals called Copepods equates to the mass of 17 million jumbo jets. The animals migrate from a depth 400m every night to feed on the plants at the surface. This is the greatest mass migration on the planet, and their swimming action moves more water than the moon and tides. The biology of the oceans are critically important but the science emerging is telling us that because we have polluted our beautiful oceans so much over the last 70 years, we have collectively managed to reduce the numbers of tiny planktonic plants and animals by a staggering 50%. This destruction is continuing at a rate of 1% year on year. These tiny animals are munching on toxic microplastic (they can’t tell the difference between plant and plastic particles) and the GOES Foundation have created an observational study so that we can start to estimate the amount of toxic chemical in the deep ocean. Free Range Ocean Participation: The crew collected samples twice per day for the entire voyage (minus a handful of times when it was not safe to do so) taking photos of the samples using a microscope on board and documenting the results which were submitted to the project upon landfall. Over 100 at-sea water samples were collected. A summary report created by an undergraduate marine scientist is soon to be publishedhaving conducted data analysis on the samples collected during the voyage to understand and they’ll share observations and findings. The crew took a 0.5 litre of sea water, put it through a GOES filter (developed by Dr.Jesus Ramon Barriuso Diez), count plankton, microplastics (fibres and beads) and any other particles which are over 20 microns. By counting the particles, the microplastics and the plankton, the GOES Foundation will use machine learning to undertake the following, but the really exciting thing about science is that other patterns and relationships may start to emerge as the number of samples we all take increases: look for relationships and correlations in the numbers present the data in ways that help us understand what’s going on in the deep ocean add up the amount of toxic PCB that is in the deep oceans of our planet. Watch this space for the findings…