PLASTIKI: Where is it now?

The 60-foot catamaran “Plastiki” that sailed out of San Francisco Bay for Australia in 2010 has returned to the US – dropping anchor in Texas. The boat made history when it fetched Sydney Harbor after 129 days at sea on a voyage that covered 8,300 nautical miles.

Plastiki is made from all-recyclable material – including 12,500 soda bottles pressurized to 36 psi with CO2. Why? Don’t know. Most of the releases and interviews mention the CO2, but not one we could find explains it.

The project was the brainchild of David de Rothschild, described variously as an adventurer and environmental advocate. Rothschild says the craft (named in honor of Thor Hyderdahl’s famous “Kon-Tiki”) and voyage is an attempt to draw attention to the need to cut back on plastic use.

Their website says at some point the intention was to recycle the whole boat after the trip… but apparently an all-plastic-bottle catamaran is a terrible thing to waste, and the craft is now destined to spend its days in Texas.

Plastiki is currently floating in a shallow pool outside the Fair Park in Dallas for the third annual Engineering and Humanities week. Plans call for it to be taken next to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and eventually to be installed in a not-yet-built center in downtown Dallas aimed at teaching youngsters about technology. – mojosail.com