Half Way there, Half Way to Go! Transparentsea Team on track to reach Bondi Nov 5th
Posted by TransparantSea on the October 19th 2009, in All, Press Releases
An adult humpback breaches for the Transparentsea cameras off the NSW North Coast, as the environmental awareness groups heads south raising awareness for whales and coastal issues. CREDIT: Dawe/Transparentsea
(Tuesday, October 20th, Crescent Head, NSW, Australia): After 19 days of surfing, paddling and sailing their way down the NSW coast, the environmental awareness group led by pro surfer Dave Rastovich has successfully passed the halfway point of their intended 700km, 36 day voyage from Byron Bay to Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Titled “Transparentsea” the initiative, which began on October 1st, aims to draw attention to the plight of the migrating humpback whales as the team follows their path south and to highlight issues of environmental concern to do with Australia’s East Coast.
Speaking from Point Plomer near Crescent Head on Day 20, Rastovich acknowledged the numerous, unforgettable whale and dolphin encounters his team had experienced. However, the alarming amount of debris that has been located and collected at the various locations the team has visited is a concern.
“At times, adult humpback whales and their calves have chosen to surface two feet away from our kayaks, which has just been amazing,” explained Rastovich.
“We’ve also camped in some of the most beautiful beachside campgrounds and surfed those beaches, but picked up hundreds and hundreds pieces of plastic and rubbish in places that look ‘Good from far, but are far from good’,” he added.
Rastovich, who says his team is on track to reach Bondi by the planned date of November 5th, also urged everyone who shared the vision of the Transparentsea environmental awareness initiative to support the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founded by anti-whaling activist Paul Watson.
Dave Rastovich (foreground) and Will Conner (background) – two members of the group of surfer-activists making their way by sea from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach over 36 days. CREDIT: Dawe/Transparentsea
Rastovich noted that the Sea Shepherd is the only organisation planning to send a vessel to help defend the whales in the Southern Ocean sanctuary from Japanese whalers in December. While Watson has been a focus of the media after Australian Immigration denied his entry based on issues to do with his visa.
“It has been very disappointing to learn that the Australian Government recently obstructed Paul Watson’s entry to Australia, rather than welcoming him as a great defender of the whales,” said Rastovich.
“Instead of upholding their pre election promise to challenge Japanese whaling in international court and to protect the Southern Ocean sanctuary, the Australian Government appears to have turned their back on the whales that are once again under threat.”
It’s anticipated that dozens of surfers and well wishers will welcome the Transparentsea voyagers, which includes Rastovich, fellow surfer, artist and activist Chris Del Moro (San Diego, CA, USA), musician Will Conner (Byron Bay, NSW), photographer Hilton Dawe (Byron Bay, NSW), a support team and special guests, when they negotiate the last few hundred metres from the sea to the shore at Bondi Beach on November 5th.
For more info, please see the links below, or contact:
Media contact: jj@premiummedia.com.au
Mobile: +61 (0) 421 384 431
9 COMMENTS
henry trigg says:
October 20th, 2009 at 3:25 amHi, your trip seems awefully hypocritical, 1. billabong placement everywhere, sickening. (we all know what that company stands for, and that you guys work for them, nice shots Hilton!) 2.a safe coast to treck with maximum media exposure for minmum effort. There are more polluted/treacherous coastlines in australia, but are not as easy to be seen or advertise, lame.
Guys, your motivation seems pure to start, but we know you are not as pure as you seem, its a weak way to show your love for the planet, you certainly are not putting yourself out by surfing and trecking down this most amazing coast! this is what most true surfers would want to do every day of their life if they had the backing of a company like billabong (strange my wetsuit says made in china, ouch)
Maybe you should do more for the planet with out making sure everyones watching, spreading ‘awareness’ can be a beautiful way to spread popularity and boost ego, oh and dont forget about advertising, just do it for yourself and the planet what is it about making sure everything is documented?
It would be nice not to see you do it, just for you to know your doing it.
regards Henry
Aaron says:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:18 amHenry you have a fair point but dude pull your other dick, they are doing more than any off us are & the young girl sailing solo around the globe what is she doing for the enviroment?
China …. dude what isnt made there?? I know Hilton is a fairy boy poser, i mean we need them, but boy the man can shoot a good pic, you agree. I reckon anyone watching will be jealous yes but also inspired to do something for the planet, what have you done lately, oh oi i bet you’ve done something awesome.. It’s good to comment though ah.
Im not the biggest fan of billabong either I wonder if Mr merchant is gonna high 5 the crew at bondi
Jeff says:
October 20th, 2009 at 8:56 amHenry,
First, it is true that Rasta and the others are doing what they love, but why shouldn’t they? Why not bring awareness to a cause by doing what you love? Who says you have to suffer to bring awareness?
Second, bringing awareness is vital to affecting change. I don’t believe the motive of this journey is ego driven by any of the participants. If they’d just sailed with the whales with no media coverage, what good would that do for their cause? You have to shout it from the rooftops, “something is wrong and we need to change it!” One person quietly picking up trash on a beach will not stop trash from washing up on the beach.
Finally, if you don’t like they way they are conducting this trip, suggest an alternative. Just pointing out what you disagree with is not helpful. Be part of the solution.
blair says:
October 20th, 2009 at 9:18 amHenry ….. nice of you to rain on this parade with your negativity. Take it elsewhere.
If you REALLY knew the men on this journey you would already know they work with pure intentions.
Take a look at the real picture my friend: A huge corporate sponsor willing to let there team rider work on an environmental campaign, I see that a step in the right direction. Furthermore, welcome to our globalized planet: in order to inspire the masses and reach people on a global level we have to work with the technology that can spread an important message, not against it. The marketing they are doing is NOT about them, it is about the whales, it is about preserving our oceans and it is about adventure.
Lets not forget that we live in a world full of judgement. I would just like you to at least embrace the journey; watch is progress and see what it becomes, without picking it apart. It may not be your perfect journey, and it may not even be the Trasparentsea crew’s perfect journey. None the less, it is represents action, love, peace and community and I cant imagine your could argue against that!
Many blessings, Blair
Mir says:
October 20th, 2009 at 4:57 pmCome on Henry.., What’ve you done lately to clean/save our planet?… If Billabong has the tools to support these guys I don’t understand how is that bad for you? … be aware that billabong also have products that are made with recycled plastics and materials … The guys from TRANSPARENTSEA are doing and excellent job and if you think sailing 700 kilometres in kayaks is “minimum effort” I don’t think you are fully informed about their trip. The idea of documenting everything to the public as much as possible is to show us the beautiful planet we live in and how much harm we are doing to it …that is called CREATING AWARNESS . Its great to know that there are people willing to protect our wild life and actually do something about it… what is wrong with doing what you love while cleaning/trying to save our planet, wouldn’t we all doing the same thing if we could?… Keep up the great work transparentsea crew!!
holly monkman says:
October 20th, 2009 at 5:15 pmBlair& Jeff cheers to being such a great bloke and proud supporter’s of Rasta and crew.
For those of you who feel the need to write something negative towards such a great mans actions, why bother. You clearly don’t know a thing about Rasta or the wonderful people who are traveling down the East Coast of Australia.
HENRY – your correct in saying there’s alot more polluted beaches in our country than the East Coast, but who’s to say Rasta isn’t looking to travel there next. Why travel to the other side of the counrty when you can begin cleaning your own front yard first. I also like the way you point out that Rasta should ‘do more for the planet with out making sure every-one’s watching’
HENRY Rasta has been helping clean and bring awareness for years now, this trip is nothing new to him. The reason why he has chosen to bring it to the media’s attention on this trip is to OPEN PEOPLE”S EYES TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. This man has goals to make his actions effect MR Rudd’s decisions on the future of our beautiful country befor we one day wake to beaches we can no longer swim in, a sky with no stars and a longer list of extinct animals.
So to all of you who are behind the Transparentsea get on board and wish them luck, watch the video blogs and listen to what Rasta has to say. Remember to also give your support to the Seashepard crew, who await to meet Rasta in Sydney on November 5th, befor they take off to protect the whales in Antartica.
toni rastovich says:
October 20th, 2009 at 6:19 pmWell just loved reading the comments ,that henry guy sure stirred some into writing some bloody good points.i only want to again show my support towards the actual core reasons behind this trip and feel extremely proud of my brothers actions.Just want to let the crew no that there is alot of shark action going on through the hawks nest and nelson bay had a fin pop up yesterday whilst surfing Samari.sure you’ll be fine and look forward to bringing some good vibes and home made bikkies to you Davo and crew very soon.x tone
ADO says:
October 20th, 2009 at 6:43 pmHow enlightening to come across some shallow dickheads opinions of individuals out there trying to make a difference. I guess the big question for you Mr Trigg is what have you done Today?Yesterday? and tomorrow? that qualifies you to offer such criticism.
Sure I understand your comments on doing more for the environment when no one’s watching, Well Maybe if Rasta carried a camera crew around with him every time he has spent his own money embarking on environmental crusades across the planet you may have a different opinion. How much of your pay packet goes towards trying to help the planet?
Rasta gained notoriety for his surfing talents, global exposure from international surfing companies that support him for his surfing talents and total credit to him for being one of the hundreds that came before him to take advantage of his situation and raise awareness of global issues regarding the environment that got him to where he is today.
What would be nice is for you to go for a swim in the ocean today and find yourself getting bitch slapped by a dolphin. I think that would be really funny and it might help you to wake up to yourself.
Good on everyone who felt the need to put Henry in his place.
Im sorry to have contributed to this small piece of pollution on the site but I thought it needed cleaning up.
Safe travels voyagers the weather looks all time today and yep I like many others are thinking of how nice it would be to be covered in sunscreen out in the ocean checking out the beautiful scenery that the whales keep jumping out of the water to see.
ross says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 pmWell, as your average everyday punter, I would never have been aware of dolphin slaughter in Japan, the work of the sea shepard organisation or the pulp mill situation in chilli, in such detail if it wasn’t for the likes of Rasta.
If being paid by a major surf label is what gives someone like Dave Rastovich the time to pour his energy into promoting awareness , bring it on, i say.