When the Annapolis to Bermuda Race begins Friday afternoon, June 6, a skipper and seven crew members will be among the 20 participating boats at the start line. We heard about his trash removal plan, and it's gotten us to thinking about garbage and the right and wrong way to dispose of it offshore.
As of now, the skipper's plan is to eat three meals a day on paper plates. The insinuation is that they will be thrown overboard. Three meals, times eight crew members, times five days, equals 120 paper plates---144 plates if it takes six days to cover the 730-mile stretch. This plan sounds crazy to us. Not only does it not take into account the possibility of a very wet ride, not conducive to paper, but it seems irresponsible.
Can you encounter a pod of dolphins, watch a beautiful ocean sunset, witness the wonders of the Milky Way at sea, and then whip your garbage overboard as if it does not matter?
We asked a seasoned offshore racer how his winning crew handled meals and garbage, and this is what he had to say:
"We have always used large plastic bowls. The key is to get the plate clean as you eat. Mop up what you can with your bread, then wipe it down with your napkin before you send it down to the galley. If it was messy, rinse in seawater over the rail either with a dunk, or in a bucket brought on deck. You can wash a lot of dishes in one sink of water. Other things we have done is to eat things that were prepped in individual tinfoil. One bag of dry trash can take many days to fill, and another of wet trash that you get rid of to the back locker every other day. With as much trash out there, there is no reason to float anything. Mylar ballons are the worst. On the delivery home from Newport to Annapolis one year, our crew counted nearly 50."
What is your plan for a five or six day offshore trip, racing or cruising? Please shoot us a note and let us know what you think.
