When you throw away or recycle a plastic water bottle, would you ever have imagined that it could form part of a boat that would enable you to cross one of the planet’s biggest oceans?

Today, a British led crew made history by succeed in sailing 9000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from California to Australia, in a boat made out of plastic bottles and other recycled materials.

The boat aptly named ‘Plastiki’ was the creation of environmentalist and member of the banking dynasty David de Rothschild. He felt inspired to create ‘Plastiki’ after reading a UN report about the severity of global marine pollution. The 12 ton vessel was held together with new glue made out of cashew nuts and sugar. An old water pipe was used as the mast. Solar panels, a wind turbine and bicycle regenerators were used to provide electricity.

He wanted to show that ‘trash should be regarded as a valuable resource’ instead of being dumped.
The Plastiki sailed through a massive floating carpet of rubbish known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch where over 100 million tonnes of plastic is dumped, which covers an area which is twice the size of France.

De Rothschild said, “’The problem is subsurface – tiny pieces of material in the process of breaking down and floating in the top layer of the ocean where most species live, feed and breed. We can stop this by banning the use of dumb plastics…Plastic is designed to last forever but we throw it out, usually within twenty minutes. It’s like a disease.’

Do you own a boat? Has this story inspired you to take to the seas? Before you do, make sure that you cover your boat, canoe or dinghy with E &L Insurance.

We offer low cost and comprehensive insurance policies that covers you against fire, theft, accidental loss or damage.

Visit our website www.eandl.co.uk/boat for an instant quote and a 10% online discount.

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