Transpac Sailboat Finds Japanese Tsunami Debris

[John A]

As reported on CNN this morning

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

[Ocean Girl]

Hit debris twice..crazy

[Roy M]

Does anyone know where these "debris field" charts, mentioned on CNN, might be found?

[Cheechako]

No charts needed, just google "North pacific ocean"... that's the location! :>)

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Hit debris twice..crazy

While doing 23k!

AND they still won the race!

[John A]

This is the debris field as of April 2012

Debris Tracker - Ocean Recovery Alliance

Japan Tsunami Debris: Current Location & Path - Bing Videos

And some more current stuff

International Pacific Research Center | News

[Paul Elliott]

The Pacific Cup and Singlehanded Transpac fleets saw a fair amount of similar debris last July and August during the races to Hawaii, and the return passages. Of course in previous pre-tsunami races / passages we usually saw Japanese debris, but it did seem like there was more stuff in 2012 than in previous years.

Last year on VALIS we saw numerous large black floats, and possibly a dock section on the race to Hawaii, and various other debris on the way back to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We hit a semi-submerged piling, but it was a glancing blow and no damage was done. Anyway, there's debris out there, and perhaps somewhat more than "usual".

[Roy M]

Another reason, if one needs it, for forward scanning sonar.

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Another reason, if one needs it, for forward scanning sonar.

Does forward scanning sonar, of the type you can put on a small boat and run of battery power, have enough range to realistically allow you to avoid debris in the ocean?

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Does forward scanning sonar, of the type you can put on a small boat and run of battery power, have enough range to realistically allow you to avoid debris in the ocean?

So far, to the best of my knowledge the answer is NO. It's not just the range, but the fact that the debris is floating at or near the surface, and the swells are moving the boat and debris. Even if the debris were to be detected, if you are making any kind of speed there isn't enough time to maneuver.

No doubt that the forward scanning sonar could help in some cases, and some conditions, but not many.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Does forward scanning sonar, of the type you can put on a small boat and run of battery power, have enough range to realistically allow you to avoid debris in the ocean?

Having owned an Interphase probe for the past 17 years and covered around 75,000 miles during that time, I'd say no way! Sad but true... unless the debris is large enough to stick well down from the surface its signal will be lost in the returns from surface disturbance.

We use the probe for many things, but detection of debris is not one of them.

Cheers,

Jim