TEAM HODL: Powering Plastic Pollution Purge

Often overlooked, the oceans cover almost 75% of the earth’s surface. They are part of the lifeblood of this planet, fiercely connected and ferociously energetic, but like the other key nature nurturers, they are being forgotten. Absorbing carbon, oxygenating the air, regulating temperature, providing food and economic opportunity, and home to significant life – the water is powerful.

However, its vastness gives an aura of indestructibility. The immenseness of the oceans dilute problems and challenges, and the results is less than 8% being protected in any form.

Support is growing for ocean conservation work, and new ideas and technologies are being developed quickly as the battle to protect marine life and ocean ecosystems intensifies. Over land, the decarbonising of various industries is underway – especially in the automotive and power generation spaces – to help clean our air. Now, the defence of the world’s water is coming to the fore as an equally essential challenge. Driving political, industrial, commercial, and public attitude-change is the first challenge.

The weight of the problem is heavy – and growing each week. The major threat? Plastic waste. Right now, human activity results in large amounts of plastic waste ending up in rivers and floating into seas. The rubbish breaks down slowly, cracking, separating, fracturing into smaller pieces. After some years in circulation, small plastic pieces are moved on the tides to concentrated areas of the ocean. In the pacific, this area is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – an enormous site that traverses the curvature of the earth and is estimated to be three times the size of France. The problem is mind boggling in scope and scale, and will take tidal ambition to address.

The Ocean Cleanup, a global non-profit organisation founded by Dutch investor Boyan Slat, is leading the conversation, aiming to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. “Our aim is to put ourselves out of business once the oceans are clean,” is the organisations mantra as is seeks to ‘turn off the tap and mop the floor’ at the same time.

HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE

Raising awareness and funding for this noble and essential cause, three young changemakers are undertaking the challenge of a lifetime, pitting their physicality, mental strength, emotional intelligence, and desire for revolution alongside Mother Naure in a race across the Pacific Ocean, rowing past the garbage patch.

Luca Feser, Cutu Serruys, and Matt Siely will live aboard a Rannoch R45 – a specially designed fibreglass vessel, just 8.64m in length – as they try to cross from Monterey, California to Nawiliwili Harbour in Hawaii – a 2800-mile journey with no support, and only six oars to power each push.

To add extra flavour, the group will compete against other teams as part of the World’s Toughest Row challenge – and aim to break a world record for a trio crossing the stretch. To date, just 82 people have successfully rowed from mainland USA to a Hawaiian island – more than 600 people have travelled into space.

Under the flag of Team HODL (Hold On For Dear Life), preparations are complete, training is done, the boat is primed. From June 12, the ocean (and the plastic) is the horizon.

“An incredible atmosphere of apprehension and excitement is guaranteed during the pre-race period as teams complete their final preparations to set off to row across the Pacific Ocean. A finish line as unique as Nawiliwili Bay on the stunning island of Kauai is hard to beat as the backdrop to what will be the most incredible, once in a lifetime adventure,” smiles Feser, telling Energy Focus more about the unique and exhilarating journey.

GARBAGE PATCH

“The exact route we are taking will go through The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is the collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean,” he details. “Marine debris is litter that ends up in the ocean, seas, and other large bodies of water. For many people, the idea of a ‘garbage patch’ conjures up images of an island of trash floating on the ocean. In reality, these patches are almost entirely made up of tiny bits of plastic, called micro plastics. Microplastics can’t always be seen by the naked eye. Even satellite imagery doesn’t show a giant patch of garbage. The microplastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can simply make the water look like a cloudy soup. This soup is intermixed with larger items, such as fishing gear and shoes.”

The deepest ocean in the world, and volatile in weather and climate, the row will be unpredictable and dangerous. The average time to cross by row teams is 62 days, but this is largely dictated by nature – and luck. With wind and strong currents, the team could get off to a strong start, but in storms or high waves, progress will quickly slow.

“Concerns come in all shape and sizes,” admits Feser. “Individual concerns will mainly come from lack of sleep and nutrition. On average, each rower will consume 5,500 calories per day. This amount of food becomes difficult to consume on an ongoing basis. Further, being in a constant state of stress, the lack of sleep, and the duration of sleep becomes a major challenging factor when making good decisions.”

Rowing three hours on, 90 minutes off, the physical challenge is colossal. The trio – Feser and Siely CrossFit experts, and Serruys a rugby player – are strong, but harnessing mental muscle is an essential component on the lonely sea.

“Within the 90 min rest period, that person must first eat, then clean themselves, wash their clothing and conduct any boat repairs. In reality, that means we’ll get 60 mins of sleep. These are potential risks and variables partially in our control,” acknowledges Feser. “However, there are factors which we cannot control. For example, famously there has been an increase in marlin attacks, where marlins use their spear-liked bill to pierce boats. Storms are also a major challenge. Our boat will most likely be capsized multiple times during our crossing because of the size of waves.”

But crashing over the crest of a wave, tumbling and bumping around in battering rain, and keeping an eye open for sharks, whales, and marlins is punishment worth taking for the longer-term goal. Standing in front of a crowd at a farewell event in May, Feser eloquently dived deeper into the plastic problem.

“One million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are affected every year, as well as many other species. For example, turtles often mistake plastic bags for prey such as jellyfish. Abandoned fishing lines, fishing nets and equipment can ensnare and drown dolphins, porpoises, and whales,” he highlighted.

“These examples may not always be close to home for people in the UK, but through a process called bioaccumulation, chemicals in plastics will enter the body of the animal feeding on the plastic and as the feeder becomes prey, the chemicals will pass to the predator – making their way up the food web that includes humans; in the long run, affecting our consumption of seafood and fish. Not only diet, but ocean plastic pollution greatly affects our economy. According to a study conducted in collaboration with Deloitte, yearly economic costs due to marine plastic are estimated to be between US$6-19 bn. The costs stem from its impact on tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and (governmental) clean-ups. These costs do not include the impact on human health and the marine ecosystem (due to insufficient research available). This means that intercepting plastic in rivers is much more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences downstream.”

Complimented for his public speaking ability, there is a reminder that when you’re passionate about something, you don’t have to remember your lines. There is no financial reward for completing this challenge – the only prize is increasing awareness and donations around a critical issue.

POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Helping to power Team HODL is a set of sponsors aligned with the sustainability theme of the entire project. Alongside an intensive training programme, PR responsibilities (including an appearance on Sky News, meeting Sir Steve Redgrave), and day jobs, the group has been required to source partnerships and sponsors to help drive the challenge, but ensuring a fundamental shared value around sustainability.

“We have two types of partners,” Feser explains. “Those that financially support us and others who provide resources. Having a mixture of the two, has allowed the journey to go ahead. For example, ON supply our crew with training gear, while SunGod – a performance glasses and goggles Certified B Corp™ – supplied the crew with eyewear alongside supporting the sustainable cause. We’ve been very fortunate to have global partners, especially, our lead sponsor, eEnergy. eEnergy is a public company that is empowering organisations to achieve net zero by tackling energy waste and transitioning to clean energy, without the need for upfront investment. eEnergy is a leader in the sustainability and this is important to the HODL team.”

Asked if projects like this – smaller in nature compared the global problem – can have a truly meaningful impact and create lasting solutions, the team is in no doubt. “Simply, yes.”

Feser emphasises reasons beyond financial inflows as significant on this journey.

“Smaller sporting projects like running a marathon can raise small donations and collectively they make a big change for charities. But our adventure is not just about raising money for the charity, it’s to gather data for them. The microplastics in the water cannot always be seen from satellites and therefore, we are able to get up-close footage. We hope to share this with the world and visually show the issue of ocean plastic.”

With 80,000 tonnes of plastic in the Garbage Patch, there is a lot of work to do. The Ocean Cleanup aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040 and money and awareness raised from undertakings like that of Team HODL are vital in generating ongoing support.

This is a daring test of bravery and endurance, and it will be treacherous. Less than 10% of the Pacific Ocean is explored or mapped, only 35% of US coastal waters mapped with modern methods.

Is the team looking beyond the horizon to another international adventure? “One ocean at a time,” Feser smiles.

The team is always searching for additional partnerships and sponsors. Follow the journey and get involved.

www.hodl-team.com | Instagram: @Team_HODL | Facebook: HODL.Team