Sailing for Science
- Faye Thorley
- Sep 15
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 17
Sailors and Scientists: Teaming Up for Ocean Discovery
During the vibrant Sail Amsterdam Festival, members of the Fair Winds Collective joined forces to take part in a hands-on PlanktoScope workshop, led by the team from SOOP (Shaping an Ocean of Possibilities).
Hosted aboard the traditional sailing vessel Grayhound, the workshop introduced participants to the PlanktoScope — a compact, low-cost imaging device designed to monitor plankton and particulate matter in marine environments. Attendees explored how to install and operate the device, learning how it captures high-resolution images of microscopic life in seawater samples, right from the deck of a vessel.
The PlanktoScope is especially well-suited for use on small mobile platforms such as sailboats, research vessels, and even in fixed locations like marinas or aquaculture farms. By collecting visual data on plankton biodiversity, particle abundance, and distribution over time and space, the device helps researchers and citizen scientists gain insights into ocean health.
Importantly, these observations contribute to broader efforts to understand marine ecosystems in the face of climate change.
As part of this collaboration, SOOP has generously loaned two PlanktoScope units to the FWC network, which are currently deployed on Tres Hombres and Tilvera. These ships will continue collecting and sharing valuable oceanographic data as they travel.
A huge thank you to Katharina for leading the workshop with clarity and passion, and to Grayhound for hosting us aboard such a unique and inspiring vessel!
Together, sailors and scientists are charting new waters in citizen-led marine research.
Sailing for Science by Faye Thorley (Director of Raybel Charters, Board Member Fair Winds Collective)
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