Youth Microplastic Sailing Expedition

In May, we organized a weekend-long microplastic sailing expedition on the traditional sailing vessel s/v Valborg. During the expedition, we collected water samples to study microplastics under a microscope. In addition to the research activities, we also learned sailing skills and navigation. At the end of the day, we had the chance to enjoy Valborg’s sauna and go for a swim!

Many thanks to Sail Trainees of Finland for the collaboration and to Sail Training International for the funding.

Examples of the microplastics found. The scale for all microplastic fibers is the same as in the first image (0.2 mm), except for the plastic fragment, which has its own scale (0.5 mm). Photo credit: Arto Hiltunen