My Message in a Bottle, Found

[Spleen]

I see both sides.

[Coops]

Originally Posted by smj

Really grasping at straws aren't you. Sign of losing a debate.

The first one that starts using insults usually indicates that they are losing the debate.

Coops.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Wendi

While I was crossing the Atlantic with the ARC, I wrote messages in about 10 wine bottles. I tossed them at different points, but all before the halfway point. So at least 1500 miles away from land.
I just got a call from a man in Florida who was fishing 20 miles offshore. He saw some fish huddled around my bottle and he picked it up! It had some barnacles on it and he read my note and called me.

I am quite giddy about having the first bottle found. The rest are making their way to landfall soon! It was 8 months ago that I tossed overboard.
I guess the fish were enjoying it on it's way.

Hi Wendi, this is great news .
Not only did it brightened up my day to read about it, it clearly made the finder happy as well as yourself. 3 positive outcomes at least.
I'm sorry not to have posted this right away but better late than never I guess.
.
.
.
.
Reading all the negative comments leave me somewhat sadder...


Anyway, good for you.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Coops

The first one that starts using insults usually indicates that they are losing the debate.



Coops.

No insults there Coops. I'm sure if there were you would have deleted my post:-)

[Coops]

Originally Posted by smj

No insults there Coops. I'm sure if there were you would have deleted my post:-)

You are right. I was just making a general comment, not specifically aimed at your post.

Coops.

[westsailwill]

Originally Posted by Blue Skye

That's cool Wendi Don't let the Litter Gestapo kill your joy

Ditto dat...

[westsailwill]

Originally Posted by smj

Common sense is abiding by a law, unless of course you consider yourself above the law. And the intent of the law is to stop pollution and floating debri in the ocean.

People that live in glass houses... I'm tellin' ya. As self righteous as you are I have to assume that you have no diesel engine, outboard, or use propane for cooking. Not to mention using any products on your boat that may have been manufactured in countries that have less than stellar environmental controls in place. Where do you draw the line? I'm surprised you didn't grill Wendi on whether or not she used recycled paper for her note. A message in a bottle. Seriously?

[smj]

Originally Posted by westsailwill

People that live in glass houses... I'm tellin' ya. As self righteous as you are I have to assume that you have no diesel engine, outboard, or use propane for cooking. Not to mention using any products on your boat that may have been manufactured in countries that have less than stellar environmental controls in place. Where do you draw the line? I'm surprised you didn't grill Wendi on whether or not she used recycled paper for her note. A message in a bottle. Seriously?

I'm not self righteous, I just try to abide by the law and do what I find is right. Though you may not like or agree with the rules, they are rules. And if you have a problem with the rules, take that up with the rule makers not me.

[IceDog]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXWrmQW-OE

The answers are all in this video

[Ex-Calif]

So what does it mean when Australia has not ratified annex 5?

" Australia (ratification)1 (with the exception of Annexes III, IV and V of the Convention) 14 October 1987 14 January 1988 "

https://imo.amsa.gov.au/public/parties/marpol78.html

Enforcement in International waters is referred back to the home flag.

Also there are a large number of states that have ratified with the exception of V.

So is this a law that applies to Americans and not Aussies?

Oh, I am flagged in Singapore - Am I OK to drop message bottles in International waters?

[sailpower]

Originally Posted by Wendi

So now we are not allowed to set our poo free when at sea?

Sure you can. Just don't run it through your head or holding tank first. That would be very, very bad.

I remember all the negativity you got from the mostly arm chair crowd re the ARC. BUT, you did it and now the arm chair crowd needs something else to be expert about. It's what they do instead of doing what you did.

Has always been so.

Glass in the ocean, the horror. Wait, why?

[dannc]

Wendii that was a very cool result.

Now I know there are three things to not bring up on CF:

1. Anchors
2. Guns
3. Messages in Bottles.

What would the POlice say?

Later,
Dan

[homeless]

I am surprised by the number of people who think it is OK to throw non-degradable glass bottles into the ocean, or who justify it based on "tradition". I have lost count of the number of smashed glass bottles I have picked up on beaches around the world to avoid people cutting their feet, and yes, I have had the misfortune to cut my own feet on glass I did not see. If you have space to carry the full bottle, then you have space to carry the empty back to land.

When I was growing up in Australia it was a "tradition" to fill up your car with beer bottles, friends, and guns, and drive around drunk, throwing bottles out of the window and shooting mail boxes, road signs, and anything that moved. Times have changed, and driving drunk, shooting road signs, and throwing bottles out the window are now illegal and will get you in serious trouble.

People need to understand that what society considers acceptable has changed, and that applies to throwing garbage into the ocean from yachts, and especially to garbage that will float to land and need to be cleaned up by someone.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by homeless

When I was growing up in Australia it was a "tradition" to fill up your car with beer bottles, friends, and guns, and drive around drunk, throwing bottles out of the window and shooting mail boxes, road signs, and anything that moved.

Ahhh.......the good old days in the Northern Territory, brings a nostalgic tear to me eye......

Good onya Wendi, glad you got a reply, most don't.....

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

Wendi - Well, I was one of the guys that "crapped" on you wrt to a short notice ARC crossing on a new boat (to you and onboard for 2 weeks before leaving?) and relative to your experience level.

So how did rush to make the ARC work for you. Based on your own accounts, police down to the boat to throw your crew off. Midnight confrontations in the middle of the ocean, a ton of interpersonal anguish while trapped in a small place with an unstable crew. Not my idea of cruising.

Which BTW could have ended way worse and would not have happened with measured planning and preparation. You made across and showed us that cautioned you but IMHO you paid a high price to say you made it.

IT was an adventure. Finding crew and choosing them was done after many interviews and research. No matter how long I had to prepare, there is not a great foolproof way to guarantee a good crew. Ellie was the ringleader and as is the risk for anyone sailing with crew, it can be an eye opener.

I had plenty of prep time, was fully equipped, attended workshops, passed all the safety inspections, braved the hardest ARC with an insane 6 days at the end.
The one crew who masterminded the final event was a very disturbed and unstable woman. She jumped on another catamaran within a couple of days of landing in St Lucia. They were in for an unexpected adventure as well.