A Raft Made of Waste

Samuel's raft is "made up of waste materials, and most of it is stuff that's been washed up on the shores in Tassie." Remarkably, the raft uses only one tube of glue to patch up a single section, underscoring the minimal use of new materials in its construction. This innovative approach highlights the potential for repurposing waste into functional structures.

The Inspiration and the Goal

The inspiration behind Project Interrupt is Samuel's vision of a cleaner planet. He emphasises, "The inspiration behind Project Interrupt is to just have a clean planet for everyone and for future generations." Acknowledging current environmental challenges, he states, "It's currently going down the Gurgler and we've got to do some work to turn that around." His goal extends beyond mere cleanup; it aims to foster healthier environments and communities, ultimately enhancing overall well-being and abundance.

Taking Action

To achieve this vision, Samuel plans to use the raft as a tool for inspiration and motivation. He outlines his strategy: "What I'll do to create that is to create something that's inspiring and motivating for people and sail it around to different locations in Tasmania and Australia, clean up beaches, clean up shorelines and talk to the people in the community and say hey, we've got to do something about this plastic and all this rubbish in the ocean." This proactive approach involves not only direct action but also community engagement, raising awareness about the pressing issue of marine pollution.

Testing and Preparing

In preparation for this ambitious journey, Samuel and his team have transferred the vessel from land where it was assembled to sea by helicopter, they are meticulously testing and modifying the raft in ocean trials to see what modifications we have to make, adding to the sails and construction of the raft. Samuel is also testing the outboard to see how it handles in rough ocean conditions which has held up nicely in some larger 5 - 7 metre seas. These steps are crucial to ensure the raft's seaworthiness and to the mission's success.

The Journey Begins

Samuel’s journey began launching back in April on a sunny, calm day launching from Hobart, making his way up the east coast of Tasmania up to St Helen's, Zen Ark (the support yacht) and "Heart" the name of Samuel's vessel, cruised down the Derwent to South Arm of Tasmania. After a few days waiting for the winds to change, they cleaned a couple of beaches and got excited about the adventure ahead.

A light north wind pushed Samuel across the mouth of the Derwent to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The wind died down, and he floated, soaking up the sun. Boats stopped by, kids jumped aboard, and they exchanged well wishes. 

Leaving Kettering without Zen Ark to take advantage of good conditions and get used to going solo, Samuel eased into Bull Bay after a few nights and a shoreline cleanup. Concerned about crossing solo, he set his alarm for 4am. With a thermos of hot chocolate ready, Samuel departed under the moonlight. The sunrise, light breeze, and playful dolphins lifted his spirits, and he arrived at a sunny, windless Nubeena around 4pm.

Samuel navigated challenging waves, starting the journey north, reaching Fortescue by 11pm. They rested for three days, enjoying the sheltered bay and jade-green waters.

Hesitant due to strong gusts, Samuel slowly left Fortescue, enjoying the coastline. Strong winds made anchoring difficult. Battling the elements overnight, Samuel managed to sneak past Maria Island into safety with Captain Steve meeting him off Schouten Island, towing him to Wineglass Bay after a stormy night. Samuel set a personal record of 60 nautical miles in 21 hours.

They spent two weeks in Wineglass Bay, cleaning the beach and campsites, enjoying walks to civilisation for hot food and drinks, finally making it all the way up to the top of Tasmania up to St Helens where Samuel is preparing his next stage of his adventure crossing the Bass Strait.

The Journey Across Bass Strait

The journey from St Helens to Eden involves navigating through the Bass Strait, with stops at Flinders Island, the Furneaux island group, Wilsons Promontory, Lakes Entrance, and finally Eden. This is a recreational journey without time constraints, allowing Samuel to adapt to weather conditions. He explains, "Our progress has been successful because our planning has been high level and flexible - I work with the weather conditions that present themselves and that which is predicted for the next 3-5 days."

Facing the Elements

The vessel has already endured a range of sea conditions, including 48 knot winds and 5-7 metre seas. Samuel recounts, "We travelled roughly 60 nautical miles in 20 hours, using around 20 litres of fuel." On a normal day, the raft travels 10-20 nautical miles at 2-3 knots while motor sailing.

The proposed journey from St Helens to Eden consists of three stages:

St Helens to Lady Barron (Flinders Island)

Lady Barron to Port Welshpool (Wilsons Promontory)

Port Welshpool to Eden

At the end of each stage, they will utilise moorings or jetties to rest, resupply critical resources, and fulfil other project commitments, such as connecting with local communities and cleaning up beaches. This approach ensures safety and security in most weather conditions before proceeding to the next stage.

Samuel McLennan's Project Interrupt stands as a testament to the profound impact one person's determination can have on environmental advocacy. By sailing a raft made entirely of waste materials, Samuel not only highlights the severity of marine pollution but also inspires others to take action. His journey from Hobart to Sydney is more than a voyage; it's a powerful statement advocating for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Get up to date news on Samuel's journey here