Restored Schooner goes to Greenland again, Next up closer to home: Chesapeake Bay Plastics Study
by Ocean Research Project 21 Feb 2024 17:07 UTC
Some of the scientific crew, 2023 expedition (Nicole Trenholm (reclining at right) © Matt Rutherford
Longtime Annapolis-based sailors Matt Rutherford and Nicole Trenholm are not just any sailors, they are highly experienced citizen scientists whose ambitious stated mission can be read on their organization's website and activities followed on their social media channels.
Via their R/V (Research Vessel) MARIE THARP these seasoned mariners now with a second major expedition to Greenland completed and having several additional scientist 'crew' aboard--were no doubt up to the challenges.
The pair obtained the languishing decades-old Bruce Roberts-designed 65-foot schooner several years ago through a donation and worked diligently to raise the needed funds to painstakingly restore the sleek beauty and completely outfit as a research platform for their Greenland scientific data collection and analysis missions.
Some background
When I first became acquainted with Matt Rutherford in 2015 the intrepid voyager was the celebrated Guinness Book of Records holder for the first person to circumnavigate non-stop the Americas solo which 27,000+ mile 309-day journey some had labeled "foolhardy in the extreme."Matt was also the subject of a documentary film Red Dot on the Ocean (see at reddotontheocean.com) which made the rounds of numerous film festivals and showcased on PBS.
The self-taught sailor accompolished the monumental feat of endurance amid strong currents and angry seas in a 27-foot Albin Vega sailboat older than he was at the time, has not rested on his laurels.
As one example, later he together with his geosciences trained, hydrographic survey experienced partner, Nicole Trenholm and Ocean Research Project Director(presently working toward her Phd in oceanography),acquired some respected sponsors,embarking then aboard a 1990 Tom Colvin-designed 42-foot steel hulled "floating scientific research station" as they described it, for a 6,500 nautical mile, 75-day environmental sojurn to survey the Atlantic Ocean "Garbage Patches" and including within fifty miles of the Azores and Bermuda while dragging nets to sample the debris and filming for their non-profit organization.A Sargasso Sea marine pollution survey was also conducted as well as other monitoring and reporting for later toxicology studies.
In 2014 they accomplished a 7,000-mile pioneerng research journey across the Pacific to Japan and return studying and shining a spotlight on the increasing problem of plastic marine debris in the world's oceans.Between 2015 and 2016 the pair journeyed for examples on two 5-month Arctic/Northwest Passage research trips to remote locations collecting data with four others on board.Their vessel also did mobile reporting of data to NOAA and fed information into international global weather forecasting platforms to support mariner safety at sea as a Voluntary Observer.
Fast forward to 2022 and 2023
Matt and Nicole continued readying the schooner for its maiden trip (named the MARIE THARP honoring a pivotal but under recognized mapmaker extraordinaire--an American geologist and oceanographic cartographer best known for her instrumental efforts to reveal in detail the Atlantic Ocean seafloor for the first time.) The Mariners Museum in Newport News,Virginia has information on her life and accomplishments.
Nicole coordinated the 2023 multi-objective collaborative international science mission of higher latitudes,she and Matt being accompanied by a base crew of science experts.(See information on underwater Soundscaping research to advance understanding of noise pollution on the natural artic ecosystem at: tariupnipingit.ca)
Several key objectives plus logistics and map which can also be viewed on the ORP website which will also give readers an interesting glimpse into the sheer depth and breadth of this latest expedition and the yet another encounter with the deep ocean,and poised for continued activity during the United Nation's "Ocean Decade" as part of the Seabed 2030 campaign.
In addition to being ORP's Project Director,Nicole functions as lead scientist monitoring the lab and deck gear together with numerous technical systems.Meanwhile the indefatigeable Rutherford furthered seabed mapping in glacial fjords--which the reaearchers report Texas glaciologists will compare the seabed features forming near where the glacier reaches the seafloor because these sediment runoff-built mounds slow the glacier retreat--plus spent every waking moment doing what he also does best--skippering and making sure the sail-rig, engine,electronics and everything else on board are all ship-shape.
Annapolis-based Ocean Research Project on course to study Chesapeake Bay plastics
Acknowledged as a first of its kind for USA's Chesapeake Bay,the non-profit Ocean Research Project(oceanresearchproject.org)with its co-Directors Matt Rutherford and Nicole Trenholm have been undertaking a data monitoring mission on plastic pollution trends in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
For over a decade ORP has provided and shared critical data from remote, sensitive areas from its 65-foot 'floating' scientific instrument and gear-packed research sailboat. The intent is to monitor biannually plastic pollution levels with its partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The plastic particle count will be done for each tributary and Bay-wide.
The Woodard & Curran Foundation with headquarters in Portland, Maine, awards an annual $100,000 Impact Grant to support organizations that work to protect water and the environment. The employee-owned private non-profit foundation was formed in 2010 as a part of the Woodard & Curran, an engineering/design/environmental consulting firm with over 800 employees. The Foundation is the principal funder of the project's final product--a detailed map of the region for informing the public of the "extent of this new Bay health water quality indicator."