Environmental News
On the Righteous Path to Bay Access
After reporting on regulatory issues over the past few years, we feel like we’ve developed an existential difference in opinion with certain policy makers who often tout waterfront trails — as opposed to ramps and marinas — as the be all end all of access to the Bay. More »
Catching Up with 11th Hour Racing
The American-led 11th Hour Racing Team has claimed a podium finish in the ultra-competitive Défi Azimut off the coast of France. A 48-hour pre-Transat Jacques Vabre tune-up, the Défi Azimut…
A Strike, and the California Coastal CleanUp
It is a big weekend for the planet — or at least our little slice of it. Today marks the Global Climate Strike and tomorrow is California Coastal Cleanup Day. Greta Thunberg’s sail across the Atlantic to the UN Climate Conference, and her testimony to Congress, has brought attention and renewed activism to the issue of climate change (we saw a sign that read “Make the World Greta Again”). More »
Man Swims Through Pacific Garbage Patch to Raise Awareness
On Saturday, a French long-distance swimmer and his support crew swam and sailed underneath the Golden Gate Bridge to mark the conclusion of an 80-day expedition from Hawaii into San Francisco. More »
‘Maiden’ Departs, Greta Thunberg Arrives
Maiden Sails Out the Gate for L.A.
A crowd of well-wishers gathered this morning to wish farewell to Maiden and her crew as they departed for the next leg of their world tour. More »
The Tower and the Rower
Sailors are probably accustomed to seeing a boat under tow — it happens. But if you were sailing on the Bay on Saturday afternoon, you might have seen the curious sight of a sailboat towing a rowboat. More »
The Plastic Plague, Part 3
“When you think of recycling, you probably think of a magical process where you throw your plastic in the blue bin, and a unicorn takes it away, and nine months later you get a beautiful baby water bottle.” More »
Are You Headed to the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Alex Bellini, a self-described adventurer, speaker and mental coach, is looking for a ride to the Pacific gyre, and he’s willing to pay his way.
Bellini’s ultimate goal is to “travel to the world’s 10 most plastic polluted rivers on a hand-made, floating vessel made out of local recycled materials,” and to “row solo across the Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest accumulation of plastic in the world.” More »
The Plastic Plague, Part 1
In era of deeply polarized opinions over basic environmental truths, there’s one area of overwhelming consensus: People are unanimously appalled by plastic in the ocean. “In the last year, there’s been unprecedented media coverage and an increase in awareness in the challenge associated with plastic,” said a spokesperson for a major Bay Area recycling facility. More »
Fishing Nets from the Pacific Gyre
The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, often referred to as the Pacific Gyre, consists of a sea of floating plastic material — various bottles, plastic chairs, packaging straps, buckets, rope and fishing nets. Several efforts have been undertaken recently to try and rid the Pacific Ocean of this debris.
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