Blogger of the Day-Jimmy Truong, MSc Candidate/ Tough Tree Planter!
Montreal-Toronto Expedition
Freshwater Research and Scientific Communications Course
Crew size: 14
Jimmy Truong, MSc Candidate, collecting a water sample using a van Doorn water sampling device.Blogger of the Day:Jimmy Truong- MSc Candidate
Blogger of the Day: Jimmy Truong
MSc candidate and intrepid Tree Planter Extroardinaire
Jimmy Truong joined us on board last Saturday, only 4 days after he returned from 2 months tree planting in Northeastern Ontario.
This fall, Jimmy will be returning to the University of Toronto to begin his Masters of Science program, under the advisement of fellow Sea Dragon crew member, Paul Helm.
Read today’s blog to find out how Jimmy will use his experience aboard Sea Dragon to supplement his future research on Great Lakes contaminants.
The Montreal – Toronto expedition is unique in that it has 3 renowned fresh water scientists onboard who have enriched the experience for us.
Professors Sam Mason and Bill Edwards lead a class on the history of the Great Lakes Ecosystem
Today we learned about the “industrial heritage” of the Great Lakes – Saint Lawrence Waterway, which is a PC way of saying that these waters were once, and still are the waste yard for human progress and excess. Dr. Bill Edwards gave us a brief history today about the formation of the Great Lakes, touching on their misuse and maltreatment after the creation of the canals and locks and the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
These waterways were crucial in the division of British and American territories during the war of 1812, and important for the economic development of this region. The region was once full of shipbuilding, fishing and manufacturing industries that left their traces in the contaminant profiles of the lakes.
What stuck with me from this talk was what we learned about the topography of the lakes. All the water from the higher Great Lakes drain in to the St. Lawrence and into the Atlantic Ocean. This was impressionable because Lake Ontario, having the lowest elevation, receives drainage from all the other lakes through Niagara Falls. This means that in addition to all the runoff that goes into Lake Ontario, there are additional contaminants from the drainage of the other lakes, which makes Lake Ontario one the dirtiest of the Great Lakes. This was troubling to learn for me because I’ve lived along the shore of Lake Ontario my whole life and have swam in its waters since I was a child.
Depth Profile of the Great Lakes Ecosystem, showing the drainage towards Lake Ontario. Image courtesy of Ohio's Department of Natural Resources Website.
This brief lecture brought me back to why I hopped on board the Sea Dragon. I came here to learn more about Dr. Mason’s sampling techniques for micro plastics, but also to collect my own samples to do preliminary tests on Organophosphate Flame Retardants (OPFRs) in the Great Lakes.
Organophosphates have been a major concern in the past when they were used as pesticides and leeched into our waterways. They are currently being used as a replacement for recently banned and controlled Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) flame retardants.
Flame retardant sources inside the home. Image taken from sourcewatch.org.
Sea Dragon begins to transit the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The history of the Great Lakes shows the incredible ingenuity of man with the construction of dams and locks. It also demonstrates the lack for foresight of the unforeseen consequences to progress. Opening up the Great Lakes to the ocean allowed in invasive species such as the zebra mussel that have caused irreversible damage to the Great Lake ecosystem.
We see this lack of foresight into the future today in the microplastics that Dr. Mason has found as well as with the unraveling story of the OPFRs making their way into our water.
This journey is about discovery but also one of hope. In order to fix our mistakes we must discover them and find ways to mitigate them. I hope that the work we are doing here on the Sea Dragon will serve as an example that more studies need to be done on chemical products and their replacements, before they are deployed.
As the mounting evidence that microplastics from face exfoliants and replacement flame retardants are being washed into our waters, we need to realize that industry and government need to follow the precautionary principle to make sure that we keep our waters clean. I hope that our scientific work and the advocacy and educational programs that Pangaea Explorations does can educate the public about the consequences of our petrochemical dependent lifestyles and that we should demand more from chemical industries and more government regulation.
When a sail tie fails you
Expect the unexpected, stay focused, and keep moving forward on Sea Dragon
Have you ever had to do a quick fix on deck mid-sail? 💬
#Panexplore #SVSeaDragon #SailingLife #OffshoreSailing #OceanAdventure #SailingSkills #SeaLife #SailingCommunity
Break away from the daily noise and reconnect with what matters most. Out here on the open water, every breath is fresh, every horizon is new, and you're part of the team driving the ship forward. 🌊
Step away from the ordinary—reserve your spot at www.panexplore.com
#OceanMindset #LifeAtSea #Panexplore #SVSeaDragon
Ever wondered why you feel instant clarity out at sea? Breaking ocean waves release negative ions that elevate serotonin levels, reducing stress and boosting mood naturally. Beyond the science, it's pure freedom 🌊
Reset your mind on our next voyage—book your cabin at www.panexplore.com
#OceanTherapy #SailingAdventure #Panexplore #Exploration #Seas
☀️ The San Blas Islands are calling 🌴
In February 2027, we’ll be sailing from Aruba across the Caribbean to the palm-fringed anchorages of the legendary San Blas Islands, before continuing on to Colón, Panama.
Around 700 nautical miles of open-water sailing, turquoise shallows, white-sand cays, remote anchorages and island time. We’ll settle into life at sea, explore the islands, and soak up tropical freedom.
A Blast in San Blas
31 Jan – 8 Feb 2027
Aruba → San Blas Islands → Colón
Somewhere between the sea, the islands and the horizon, this one might just be worth answering the call.
Find out more and book your place on our website.
🌐 www.panexplore.com
#Panexplore #Sailing #TrySomethingNew #SailingInstagram #Caribbeans
Crossing into the Arctic Circle is a rite of passage few get to experience ⚓✨
During our Blue Nose Ceremony, Skipper Ineke read Neptune’s message, clearing our crew for safe passage through the realm of ice and cold. A moment of tradition, adventure, and connection on the open sea 🌊⛵
Would you brave the Arctic waters? 👇
#SailingLife #ArcticCircle #BlueNoseCeremony #Panexplore #SVSeaDragon #OceanAdventure #SailingCommunity #WomenWhoSail #ExpeditionSailing #MaritimeTradition
We’re delighted to welcome August Race @augustrace as a Panexplore partner!
Every expedition leaves an impact, and choosing the right products is one of the ways we can help minimise ours. August Race creates cleaning products specifically designed with the marine environment in mind, and is the only cleaning product range compliant with MARPOL Annex V.
As we travel through remote waters and spend more time offshore, we believe looking after the places we visit should be part of every expedition. That means making thoughtful choices about the equipment, products and practices we bring on board.
We’re proud to partner with August Race as we continue exploring with a greater focus on protecting the marine environments that make these adventures possible.
Here’s to cleaner boats, cleaner waters and many more miles of responsible exploration. 🌊⛵
#Panexplore #LifeAtSea #ExpeditionSailing #SailingInstagram #SailingGear #Partnership
✨ Celestial navigation is one of the oldest ways to find your way at sea, and there’s nothing quite like putting it into practice offshore.
Join us for an offshore passage and work towards qualifying for your Ocean Yachtmaster while developing your celestial navigation skills along the way.
We’ll have sextants and all the required documentation onboard, with our Skipper and 1st Mate on hand to coach you through taking your sights and putting them to use.
Feeling ready for more responsibility? You may even get the chance to take charge for 24 hours and see if you can navigate us to where we want to go!
Ready to put your skills to the test?
👉 DM us to find out more and request our availabilities.
#Panexplore #Sailing #Adventure #SailingInstagram #CharterYacht
Before GPS, sailors relied on the stars, the sun, and a sextant to find their way across vast ocean stretches. 🧭✨
Here’s a quick 1-minute breakdown of how this classic instrument works onboard SV Sea Dragon during Yachtmaster training!
Ever tried celestial navigation? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#Sextant #CelestialNavigation #SailingSkills #Yachtmaster #Panexplore #SVSeaDragon #OceanNavigation #SailingTips #TraditionalSailing #SailingLife
Exceptional opportunity to meet the team at @rorcracing Cowes Clubhouse on October 1st at 1800 BST for a Talk about how we operate SV Sea Dragon - a Challenge 72 yacht refitted to sail around the world without a dedicated maintenance team nor home port or container. Being commercially coded Cat 0 by the UK MCA while flagged in the Cayman Islands and owned by a US company is always a joy, that’s before we start working on our 110V system, with our UK supplied engine, our british sized jammers and our US-sized lines. We had to identify a network of reliable and expert contractors, a gigantic servicing calendar that competes with a ballet dancing sheet and our very own app to manage all our boat systems, inventory and maintenance log.
We’ll open up our black box of operational genius that makes us look like we effortlessly run a truly global expedition yacht! Spoilers: we sweat a lot underneath the great looks 😅
🔗 sign up link in Bio!
We get asked the questions all.the.time!
Will they be safe on the world’s toughest oceans 🌊⚡
SV Sea Dragon was designed to conquer extreme conditions, heavy seas, and gale-force winds with strength and reliability. When nature turns up the dial, she’s right in her element.
Ready to experience true offshore expedition sailing? Link in bio to join a future voyage! ⛵
#ExtremeSailing #StormSailing #HeavyWeather #SVSeaDragon #Panexplore #OceanExpedition #OffshoreSailing #SailingBoat #AdventureSailing #OceanGale
Sometimes, the most meaningful adventures begin with simply saying yes.
Stepping aboard for an expedition offers the chance to do something different: challenge yourself, experience something new and make space for an experience that’s entirely your own.
This review is a beautiful reminder that adventure doesn’t have to wait for the “right” time. Sometimes, saying yes to yourself is the challenge worth taking.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re honoured to have been part of your journey and hope this is just the beginning of many more adventures ahead. 🌊⛵
#Panexplore #SailTheWorld #DreamTravel #OceanAdventures #SailingInstagram
Flame retardant sources inside the home. Image taken from sourcewatch.org.
