Westerly winds dominate the region we have sailed into.  It seems the winds can die off or blow lightly out of any direction but when the wind turns WSW it increases to 20+ knots forcing us due north.  Every chance we get we head west knowing that stronger headwinds...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 20, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

As we head Northwest every day that we trawl our samples increase in the amount of plastic micro-debris. The other day I amused myself for a few hours and I played a game trying to catch all the floating trash that went past the boat, with a large net...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 20, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

STEM Students Elijah and Sarah learned about plastics that turn into an igneous rock found on some Hawaiian Beaches.  They found an interesting article about the topic and want to share what the learned below.

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By: Matt Rutherford On: June 14, 2014 In: Trans Pacific Plastic Pollution Survey Comments: 0

I’ve had a busy week. The day after we sailed passed Wake Island we sailed out of the easterly trade winds and into a windless void nearly 800 miles wide. After sailing west for 5,600 miles we have found the end of the easterly trades. Now it’s time to...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 11, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

It is day 47 and Matt and I are starting to think about what food we crave the most. We both agree a nice salad and fruit would be refreshing but then Matt changes his mind to a dozen BBQ chicken wings and I decide nachos would be tasty...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 11, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

Old Mill Middle School Student Blog — Pollutants and more..

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The luxuries of civilization only satisfy those wants which they themselves create.  Well, at least that’s what the great scientist and Antarctic explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard used to say.  I can’t say I disagree, yet some luxuries of civilization sound awfully nice right about now. The Harbor 29 is essentially...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 2, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

Angry birds, is not just an amusing game APP on your smartphone but an everyday observation I have made on all 38 days sailing across the Pacific. The birds I referring to are alive and soar around the Sakura not on an electronic device. Maybe these birds are more...

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By: ORPTeam On: June 2, 2014 In: STEM Education Comments: 0

The sixth grade STEM science class has been researching plastic. They have found some shocking things that are happening despite the fact that plastic materials are used very often in our daily lives. When you take showers in the morning, did you realize that your shower curtain is made of...

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Today we pass from the western hemisphere into the eastern hemisphere, 24 hours vanish and like magic and an entire day disappears.  All of our samples have to be properly logged with descriptions about things like, wind speed, sea state, time of day.  All of our samples are logged...

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