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Wind-Powered Ocean Science

Fair Winds Collective and SOOP Bring PlanktoScopes to the Ocean



At Fair Winds Collective, our mission has always been grounded in sustainability: enabling seafaring powered purely by wind, without emissions and without compromise. Today, we take that mission to a new level. Through our collaboration with SOOP (Shaping an Ocean of Possibilities) and the supoort of The Ocean Movement we are bringing cutting-edge ocean monitoring technology onto wind-powered vessels - starting with the installation of our first PlanktoScopes.


A Collaboration for Responsible, Low-Impact Ocean Science


SOOP’s vision is to expand global ocean observation through accessible, low-emission platforms. Together with Fair Winds Collective, this vision becomes reality on sailing vessels that move solely with the power of the wind.

As part of this collaboration, we are establishing a shared PlanktoScope instrument pool, enabling vessels in our network to contribute valuable scientific data with virtually zero environmental footprint.


The first two PlanktoScopes are being installed on:


These ships - powered purely by wind - will serve as sustainable observation platforms.


What the PlanktoScope Enables


The PlanktoScope is an open-source imaging microscope that captures high-resolution photographs of plankton directly at sea. Though tiny, plankton are vital: they support marine food webs, regulate carbon cycles, produce oxygen, and respond rapidly to changes in ocean conditions.


By analyzing plankton communities, we gain insights into:

  • Ocean warming and acidification

  • Biodiversity shifts

  • Carbon absorption and biological pump changes

  • Harmful algal bloom patterns

  • Long-term climate indicators


This data is essential - and wind-powered vessels can collect it without adding emissions to the problem we are trying to solve.


Why We Need Your Support


To expand this effort, we will soon launch a funding campaign dedicated to building a larger PlanktoScope instrument pool.

A bigger pool means:


  • More vessels equipped for science

  • Wider geographical coverage

  • More frequent data collection

  • Contributions to global open-data platforms

  • Stronger community participation

  • A resilient, decentralized observing network


Your support directly enables emission-free ocean science - collected by the wind and powered by collaboration.


Fair Winds Collective

State: FWC - Support Planktoscoop

IBAN: NL88 TRIO 0321 0767 96

BIC: TRIONL2U


Together with SOOP, Tres Hombres, and Tilvera Expeditions, we are proving that responsible, inclusive research is possible at sea. With your help, we can put more instruments on more wind-driven vessels and create a global movement of sustainable ocean observation.


Join us. Support the instrument pool. Help shape an ocean of possibilities.


Peggy Engelmann



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