Sailors for a cleaner ocean- Introducing The Trash Hunters

American Promise underway SW

Rachael Miller and her husband Jamie Lyne at the wheel of American Promise © SW

Rachael Miller and James Lyne, from Vermont, USA, are the husband and wife team that head up the Rozalia project, a non-profit organisation, centred on the north-east coast of the USA, and named after Rachael's great grandmother, Rozalia. They are both sailors and adventurers, with a complex history involved in sailing, diving, and the operation of ROVs (remotely operated vehicles).

Moved by the necessity for action for a cleaner ocean, they have purchased American Promise, which is a Ted Hood 60ft sloop and a past sail training vessel for the US Naval Academy, to act as their trash-hunting mothership. Their mission is to find and remove marine debris, sometimes assisted by the operation of their ROV. After purchasing the yacht, they sailed it from Annapolis to Albany, New York, to get it ready for work.

Along with their trash-hunting, they want to visit as many sailing centers, yacht clubs and other waterfront organizations to clean up, educate and spread the word about the problem and how we can all be a realistic part of the solution.

To expand what they can achieve, they are now going for a grant, and Rachael is looking for support. 'We have been accepted into the Pepsi Refresh grant contest. If, by the end of August, we are in the top 10 in our $50K category, we will win that funding.

The ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to be used to clean the ocean bed © SW

'We want to spread the word about what we are doing and our unique opportunity to gain support by only asking for a minute a day from sailors (instead of actual money to support us).

'Winning this grant will mean that we will be able to do our work and tour the northeast US next summer visiting community sailing centers, towns and sailing clubs from New York City up to Cape Ann (in 2012 we will start in Marblehead and head north and east into Maine) without charging them and being able to take volunteers onboard to have the experience helping us with our mission while experiencing life at sea, learning about navigation, marine science and of course the joys of sailing.'

Teaching the next generation © SW

You can read all about them and the Rozalia Project on their web site: www.rozaliaproject.org . But more importantly, if you think what the Miller/Lyne team are doing is worthwhile, you can be part of the solution during the month of August by voting for them on the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Once registered (they do not fill your inbox with spam), it will only take 60 seconds per day to vote for them. (Sadly, unless you are a citizen of the US, you can't vote)

Trash the Trash Hunters have already retrieved © SW

'And,' says Rachael, 'If you really love your oceans clean, after you vote please spread the word to your friends on email, on Facebook, tweet it to the world, tell people on forums, stop strangers at the dock or street.... every vote counts. And the seas are connected so a vote for any clean ocean, river or bay, is a vote for your clean ocean, river or bay.'

Fishermen and sailors should be careful of what they throw overboard © SW

With enthusiasm like that, how can you resist spending a minute or two registring and voting for them?

Here's the link, do it now!: www.refresheverything.com/rozaliaproject

...AND, with inspiration like that, let's hope there are many other sailors in the world who are similarly motivated and will take direct action in the future. If there are, we'd like to hear from you!