IN THE PAST DAY, WE HAVE EXPLORED THE LOVELY HORTA! TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE, WE PICKED UP TRASH ON 9 DIFFERENT BEACHES YESTERDAY. THE ALEX-2 AND THOR HEYERDAHL CREWS RETRIEVED 631.9 KILOS OF TRASH! WHILE SOME OF IT WAS FROM LOCAL FISHERMAN OR PLASTIC WASTE WHICH WAS NEW TO THE AZORES 30-YEARS AGO, TAGS FROM LOBSTER TRAPS FROM THE COAST OF MAINE AND CANADA ARE COMMON, ALONG WITH SQUID TRAPS FROM COASTAL AFRICA, AND SHOES FROM CONTAINERS LOST AT SEA. INTERESTINGLY, BECAUSE OF THE CURVE OF THE SHOE, ONLY RIGHT-FOOTED SHOES MAKE THEIR WAY TO FAIAL. ON THE PORTO PIM BEACH, CREWS SIFTED FOR MICROPLASTICS. MOUNDS WERE FOUND IN THE SAND AND IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE THE AMOUNT INGESTED BY SEA LIFE, INCLUDING THE FISH THAT WE CONSUME. THESE ARE AMONGST THE NUMEROUS ITEMS BEING TRACKED BY A LOCAL UNIVERSITY TO ATTEMPT ADDRESSING THE SOURCE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
DATE: 14 MARCH 2022
TIME: 0800 UTC -01:00
WEATHER: SUNNY
TEMPERATURE: 17°
SEA STATE: 0
WIND FORCE: 1
STATUS: DOCKED
LATITUDE: 38° 31′
LONGITUDE: 28° 37′
AVERAGE SPEED: 0 KNOTS
TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 11,996 NM
LOG KEEPER: VICTORIA
