The In Our Element Atlantic Rowing team took a break in their training schedule to visit the Southampton International Boat Show for their final public appearance before they pack up the boat for La Gomera and the start of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge.

Appearing on the Foredeck Stage at the show, the four rowers, were joined by Professor Andy Pickford from the Centre of Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth, to help explain why they were taking on the world’s toughest row – 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera to Antigua.

The rowers talked of their intense training and final preparations for the challenge which begins in December. Covering topics from safety and survival, physical and mental preparation and managing long periods of time away from their families, however their overarching motivation is to tackle the crisis of plastic pollution in our oceans, citing the fact that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean*.

Professor Andy Pickford from the Centre of Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth, explained how they have engineered a natural enzyme that can break down PET plastic. The enzymes (PETase and MHETase) break the PET polymer into the chemical building blocks ethylene glycol (EG) and TPA. These can be used in the production of new PET products, thus contributing to the circular economy and reducing landfill from single-use plastic.

Hollie Luff, Business Systems Manager from Premier Marinas and Team Skipper explains: “Our challenge is simply a platform to shout about the crisis facing our oceans. We all work in the marine sector and are passionate about the marine environment. What we strive for is to not only clear up the plastic but break down the plastic and turn it into new products. That’s what this enzyme technology does.”

Premier Marinas are a platinum sponsor to the In Our Element Racing Team. Follow their progress via Premier Marinas social channels.

*Prediction from analysis by The Ellen Macarthur Foundation

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