Our small group of eight gathers on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey and descends a short flight of stairs to the Derek M Baylis, a high-tech, 65-foot, research sailing vessel. As we board, sea otters loll about just off the port side, which captain David Robinson declares a “good sign.”
The Baylis has traveled thousands of miles doing everything from pollution research to tagging white sharks, but this evening’s voyage is about more than that. “Earlier today we did a kelp pull and a plankton tow,” says David. “But tonight, our focus is really on wine and cheese.”
Welcome to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Sunset Sail,” one of two seafaring programs conducted from May through September. The other, the “Day Sail,” is more science-based, but both offer education about Monterey Bay, combined with a relaxing cruise on which you’re likely to see otters, dolphins, seals and the occasional whale.
An Ocean-going Prius
The Baylis was designed for research and to range widely with minimum power requirements. It sleeps 12, and has ample scientific equipment, including a video microscope that passengers are welcome to use. Once underway, it cruises easily at eight knots, and an auxiliary diesel engine provides power to reach 12 knots. In the same way that a Toyota Prius changes between power sources, the Baylis can use wind power, the diesel engine, or both. The hull is a smooth, low-drag shape, and the masts are carbon fiber—they visibly flex under load, changing the shape of the sail to better catch the wind. Combined, these features enable the Baylis to travel vast distances with much less environmental impact than a conventional, diesel-powered research vessel.
Sailing with a Purpose
During the Aquarium’s Day Sails, passengers assist with a plankton tow, a kelp pull and a benthic (deep-water) sampling device. Specimens such as skeleton shrimp, sunflower sea stars, and beautiful diatoms are examined, some under the boat’s powerful microscope.
More than 15,000 people have been out on the Baylis over the past five years and been exposed to its mission of environmental outreach. The Sunset Sails and Day Sails are jointly run by the Aquarium and Sealife Conservation. The Aquarium’s programs run from May through September, and Sealife Conservation runs its own outreach at other times of year.
Passengers learn about issues affecting the bay and what they can do to help, such as using our Seafood Watch pocket guides to choose ocean-friendly seafood. But where the Baylis is most active is in the area of marine debris research. “The first year, we just picked up everything we saw,” says David. “Then it became obvious, since we were doing 180 laps of Monterey Bay, that if we really wanted to help, we should pick up trash and log it.”
Now the Baylis—with the help of passengers—uses sophisticated software and GPS to generate maps of ocean trash. “Our marine debris research continues to evolve,” says David. “We’re capturing precise data.”
Armed with these convincing statistics, the boat and its team have begun visiting important port cities up and down the coast, meeting with mayors and city councils to advocate for bans on polystyrene and plastic bags. The Baylis, it turns out, is a remarkably effective lobbying tool. “We take out people who work for the city, or who work in restaurants,” says David. “We had one sail this summer with members of city councils around the bay. If we can get people on the boat, they understand the problem in short order.”
Indeed, that’s the beauty of the Baylis. It’s a place to learn about the bay, and important ocean issues, while thoroughly enjoying yourself. “Public awareness has increased just in the four years we’ve been doing this,” says David “People are drawn to the boat—it’s amazing how powerful an education tool this can be.”
View a video of the Baylis under sail.
Read the Sailing Adventures trip log.
Sunset Sails take place Wednesday through Saturday, June 17-September 5; and
Fridays and Saturdays, September 11-26. They take 90 minutes and leave at 5:30 p.m.
Day Sails take place Wednesday through Sunday, June 17-September 6; and
Saturdays and Sundays, September 12-27. Sails take 3 hours on the following schedule: Saturdays: 10 a.m., 2 p.m.; Sundays: 10 a.m.; and Weekdays: 2 p.m.
Register online or call (831) 647–6886.
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Posted by: Term Papers | December 16, 2009 at 01:33 AM
This is incredible! The photos are really nice but the story of this boat- and evening wine and cheese cruises- unbelievable! I envy the people who work on that boat :) I honestly do :)
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Posted by: Term paper | August 17, 2009 at 04:40 AM