HE’S built a raft entirely out of the rubbish he’s found on the beach and he’s sailing it all the way from Tasmania to Sydney.
Maybe further.
Picture Chuck Noland and ‘Wilson’ on their raft (only bigger with a better sail) trying to escape the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.
Samuel McLennan, a 48-year-old business coach and personal mentor from Hobart, has only made it as far as Sealers Cove at Wilson’s Promontory so far but he might already have had the hairiest moment on the whole trip.
“At one stage the winds were blowing at 50 knots, with a 5 metre to 7 metre swell running. We got to Deal Island too early to get into the harbour and almost got swept right past it,” said Sam as he was heading off on the next leg of his trip, to Port Welshpool.
“The currents and the wind were the hardest. I’m not concerned about the raft.
“I’ve mostly been going along at 2-3 knots, but 5-6 knots would be ideal.”
When does he expect to get to Sydney?
“I don’t know.
“I’m going into Port Welshpool now and we’ll probably stay there for two or three weeks and then head off up the coast.”
Sam had a support boat for the treacherous crossing of Bass Strait, but he’ll be on his own for the run into Port Welshpool. What happens after that is yet to be decided.
“It would be nice,” he said of the possibility that someone will follow him in a support craft.”
So, why is he doing it.
Clearly, he wants to draw attention to the rapid increase in the amount of rubbish in the environment, especially in the ocean, and fears that it will ultimately kill every living thing, including us.
But he’s also concerned for the future and direction we are headed as a society, including lack of leadership, the rising levels of mental health problems, lack of corporate and government responsibility and many other things.
“I work in business development, and as a business improvement mentor.
“I also help homeless people. As a homeless person myself once, I feel I know something about the challenges.”
In fact, while the challenge of building a raft from ocean and coastal rubbish has the obvious message for corporates of taking responsibility for their waste and for everyone, looking after the environment better, Project Interrupt is also urging people to get on board and make a difference themselves.
This could mean getting involved in beach clearing activities through initiatives such as #ZeroDebrisTassie via the projectinterrupt.com website, Click HERE
Or it could mean contributing to the cause financially through the My Cause website. Click HERE.
Some of the proceeds will also go towards Sam’s work with the homeless.
After Port Welshpool, it’s off to Lakes Entrance and then further up the east coast. It’s likely that the quest will continue and gain more notoriety as he goes.
Both issues could do with plenty of publicity and action which is what Project Interrupt is all about.
