Shipping Routing
Thanks to the participation of CNES and CLS, we have an Argos beacon on board which transmits our position en permanence to the Argos supervision center. You will find below the map of our journey updated during all our crossings.
13-28 juin 2018: Sampling loop Continent-Balearic Islands.
After all these great encounters with the public and the many exchanges they generated, we set off again for Menorca on a rather direct track. On our route, gyres were detected by our partner Mercator-Oceans; and the crossing was rich in samples, even if we had to reckon with weather that didn't always allow us to stop the boat in the best conditions.
After a short stopover in Menorca, we headed back to the nearest gyres towards the Var coast. And we can see on the map that a straight line is not the shortest path for plastic explorers!
Below is the CLS-Argos mapping of our route, and an example of observations of gyres detected by oceanography satellites.
Follow our journey by reading the crew's logbook!
18 mai-12 juin 2018: Corsica-Continent Loop.
After awareness sessions in high schools, we left Ports St Louis du Rhône on 18 mai, and set sail for Corsica for a new series of samples and observations, whales, cetaceans, jellyfish. On our way, two fairly stationary and potentially interesting gyres have been identified by Mercator-Oceans.
Arrived at Bonifaccio where we held new awareness sessions with the general public and with primary classes, we continent via Ajaccio to continue the work of raising public awareness in St Raphaël, Cannes, Menton and Monaco. These very fruitful conferences have once again shown us the very strong interest of the general public in environmental issues in the Mediterranean.
Continuation of the program: new sampling campaign.
Below is the latest CLS-Argos mapping of our Corsica continent loop.
29 April - 11 mai 2018: Gibraltar - Port St Louis du Rhône
On April 28 at 22:30 UTC, the Strait of Gibraltar is crossed and we begin the scientific observation protocols. Already a few cetaceans and some counter samples!
Driven by strong downwind winds, nearly 30 knots, Le Labo is swallowing the south of Spain at high speed, and we hope to reach the French coast in time to take part in several events. But that's without counting on the antics of Eole and a villainous engine failure, the diesel decanter which let us go in a great dead calm just in sight of Barcelona. It's a trying passage for morale because we see the hours slip away and our chances of arriving in France on time are reduced.
Towed in the passes of Barcelona, we can finally make landfall to repair thanks to an extraordinary mobilization on social networks which warmed our hearts. ugly!
Lucie comes aboard with the spare part. We are complete for the final ascent Barcelona - Port St Louis which must be done without incident. On our way, a depression that has deepened generously gratifies us with nearly 50 knots of wind (90 km / h, it's blowing really very strong). Under reduced sail, our Lab proves that it knows how to take the hits, even in difficult seas when a wave stronger than the others throws Marine on l'artimon, and Marie on the table square! More fear than harm because we have taken all the safety precautions, but we will have to completely repair the table leg if we want to be able to enjoy the meals! The meals precisely, in this chaotic sea, are quite folkloric; we even tried speculoos/campaign pâté!
Morale remained good as the French coasts approached and the wind calmed down. We reach Port St Louis on May 11, completing this tour of Spain which was not easy. Special mention to Lucie for this rather muscular first contact with the high seas!
Below is the latest map CLS-Argos of our trip and the famous depression we crossed (the routing was a little optimistic and we actually passed through the strongest of the gale (the dark orange patch that we see arriving in the morning).
23-29-April 2018: Last legs in the Atlantic!
From Cascais, at the entrance to Lisbon, the winds were good, and we were able to accelerate. There are only four of us on board and the shifts follow one another in four-hour increments. A short stopover in Faro allowed us to recharge the batteries a little. And on April 28 at 22:30 UTC, the Strait of Gibraltar is crossed!
01-23-april 2018: The North West of Spain is not a long calm river!
It was a long wait before the favorable weather window opened.
After a few jumps on the north coast which brought us closer to Cape Finistère, we were able to around the mythical cape to glide towards the coast of Portugal. the height of Vigo, the finally favorable winds allowed us to go down to Lisbon from where we leave on April 23rd.
March 24-28, 2018: Crossing the Bay of Biscay .
At the latitude of Bordeaux, we can see the inflection of our trajectory during the passage of a depression which pushed us towards the East. Subsequently, the wind did not return far enough to the North, forcing us to stop in Galicia and wait for a favorable weather window for the rest of our road.
