Tara Oceans (TARA OCEANS POLAR CIRCLE)

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The Tara Oceans Polar Circle expedition departure on May 19th, 2013 05/10/2013

The Tara Oceans Polar Circle expedition departure in Lorient on May 19th In May 2013, the schooner Tara embarks on a new scientific adventure: The Oceans Polar Circle expedition. Tara will travel 25 000 ams around the Arctic Ocean via the Northeast and Northwest passages, returning to Lorient in December 2013.The new challenge brings together biologists and oceanographers to focus on

Which scientific equipment will come on board for the next expedition?  05/06/2013

Which scientific equipment will come on board for the next expedition? Interview with Marc Picheral and Céline Dimier, scientific engineers.  Based at the Laboratory of Oceanography, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Marc Picheral coordinates the installation of some scientific equipment aboard Tara, including everything for the "Dry Lab". Engineer at the Roscoff Biological Station, Céline Dimier is

Arctic Navigation: what awaits Tara next summer 05/02/2013

Arctic Navigation: what awaits Tara next summer  During the next expedition, "Tara Oceans Polar Circle", the schooner will be sailing in Arctic waters. 12 million square kilometers dotted with ice and icebergs. Preparations for sailing in the Arctic are not taken lightly. There are risks and specific guidelines for the polar regions. Ice  The foremost danger we'll confront is icebergs.

Press release - Tara Oceans Polar Circle: a new scientific expedition in the Arctic 04/22/2013

Tara Oceans Polar Circle: a new scientific expedition in the ArcticThe polar schooner Tara will depart from Lorient on May 19, 2013 for a new expedition: Tara Oceans Polar Circle. A scientific adventure lasting seven months and traveling 25,000kms around the Arctic Ocean via the Northeast and Northwest passages. Supported by the CNRS, CEA, EMBL and other private and public partners, this

PARIS APPEAL FOR THE HIGH SEAS 04/11/2013

PARIS APPEAL FOR THE HIGH SEASLast week, Tara Expeditions organized with the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the international conference «The High Seas, heritage for all Humanity : what governance for sustainable ocean management?». The highlight of the day was the reading of the Paris Appeal for the High Seas. Because the High Seas belong to none, they must be managed in the

International Conference: The High Seas *, what governance for sustainable ocean management ?  04/08/2013

International Conference: The High Seas *, what governance for sustainable ocean management ? The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) will be held on April 11, 2013 in Paris  .Watch it live:In recent years, many activists have been mobilizing for a sustainable management of the oceans. The Rio+20 summit organized by the United Nations (UN) in 2012 proposed concrete goals and

Program: Tara's stopover in Bordeaux 03/31/2013

Program: Tara's stopover in Bordeaux From April 1 to 7, and for the first time, Tara will be docked in the heart of Bordeaux, at the Ponton d'honneur, Quai Richelieu. To raise public awareness about the ecological crisis threatening the world's oceans, and to share the adventure of the Tara Oceans Expeditions, several events will be organized during this Week of Sustainable Development. We

Interview with Etienne Bourgois, president of Tara Expeditions 03/28/2013

Interview with Etienne Bourgois, president of Tara Expeditions  After Tara’s long stopover in Paris, and before the next Arctic adventure, Etienne Bourgois gives us the latest news about Tara Expeditions. The schooner Tara was in Paris for 4 months this winter. What are your conclusions?  It’s always magical to see Tara at the foot of Pont Alexandre III with the Eiffel Tower in the

“We have to program everything in advance” 03/06/2013

“We have to program everything in advance”Interview with Loïc Vallette, Tara’s captain: Preparations for the next expedition  The schooner is now in Lorient, her home port. There are less than three months before starting the next expedition, "Tara Oceans Polar Circle." That's both a lot and not too much time because there are so many things to do. We have an update from Loïc Vallette

Passing through Le Havre 02/28/2013

Passing through Le Havre For two days Tara has been docked at quay Jean Reinhart, in the middle of the port of Le Havre. In this setting of immense quays, immobile cranes and empty docks, Tara's masts will be lifted to their normal, vertical position.In Le Havre, huge docks are lined with corrugated iron buildings, drawbridges open to let pass container ships from around the world, and the locks

Stéphane Hessel 02/27/2013

We have learn, this morning, with great sadness the lost of Stéphane Hessel and would like to address our sincere condolences to his wife Christiane Hessel-Chabry. We were honoured when he came to visit Tara in Paris in November and by his support for our project. He said, that day, that Tara was "the result of a wonderful effort, to increase our knowledge on Mother Earth, on what is threatening

Paris - Le Havre. Back to sea ! 02/25/2013

Paris - Le Havre. Back to sea !Tara's life is a long quiet river. At least, it has been for the past three days, since we've been traveling peacefully down the Seine. The tumult of Paris is behind us, and life on board resumes its course, slowly...The masts have not yet been raised, but the boat is moving along the Seine at a brisk pace (9-10 knots, 16-18 km /h) as if impatient to see the ocean.

And we're off!   02/22/2013

And we're off!  4 months. 4 months without moving, if only the bow tip. That's not happened to Tara...for ages! Arrival in Paris on the 15th of October, and we left this morning. Light-hearted and full of memories.   For the last couple of days, meals on board were peppered with: “Hey, do you remember when the Minister came?” “And the evening we gave a lecture on

Paris Flooded 02/20/2013

Paris Flooded4.06 meters, 4.21m, 4.47m, 4.97m -- for ten days, the clearance under the bridges of Paris has been increasing. Sign that the water level is going down, floodwaters are receding, and soon the schooner will be able to pass under the Pont des Invalides to begin her next voyage.Every morning for ten days, captain Loïc has performed the same ritual. He turns on his computer. Connects to

Tara's stopovers in the Mediterranean cancelled 02/13/2013

Tara's stopovers in the Mediterranean cancelledTara is stuck in Paris! The extremely high waters of the Seine prevent the schooner from passing under certain bridges. This situation will last at least until Monday, February 18, so with regret we must cancel our stopovers in the Mediterranean. Departure from Paris was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 7. Because of this delay from the

Ellie Ga on the Tara Expeditions artists' gallery 02/12/2013

Ellie Ga on the Tara Expeditions artists' galleryThis gallery exhibits online the work of artists who have embarked on the schooner Tara since 2004. For Tara Expeditions, the presence of artists creating their work on board is a way of contributing a different vision of the environment. Artists were invited aboard as observers during the scientific expeditions, and recounted

Paris stopover ends. A new expedition begins 01/31/2013

Paris stopover ends. A new expedition begins Tara has been in Paris for 3 months now – an opportunity for thousands of children and visitors to explore the ship, learn about our expeditions, and a chance for us to explain the vital importance of the world's oceans.The speciality of Tara's scientific expeditions is to make information accessible to a very wide public, and that is what we've

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEW EXPEDITION TARA OCEANS POLAR CIRCLE 2013 01/16/2013

TARA OCEANS POLAR CIRCLE 2013Tara will embark in May 2013 to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean via the Northeast and Northwest passages -- a scientific and academic adventure covering 25,000 kms and lasting 6 months. This French expedition will be in collaboration with countries bordering the Arctic Ocean and in association with the Principality of Monaco.THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE EXPEDITIONAll

The Seine is Alive! 01/11/2013

The Seine is alive !I’m back on Tara, and of all the cities or spots, this is one of my most favorite places in the world. As I re-enter the main cabin, the engine room and fresh baked bread flood my memories and I am unable to suppress my desire to capture plankton! The inspiration for my recent art… The question arises, “Is there anything alive in the Seine?” The first thing was to

"Learning is a constant, and transmission of knowledge is a necessary pleasure" 01/07/2013

"Learning is a constant, and transmission of knowledge is a necessary pleasure"Philippe Duflot is 63 years old. He's been retired for 3 years, after a career primarily in the commercial world. Since his retirement, he's been a volunteer, teaching children what life, school and education gave him : love of reading, openness and respect for others. He regularly reads Celtic stories in classrooms,

INTERVIEW OF ROMAIN TROUBLE ON THE NEXT TARA EXPEDITION TO THE ARCTIC: TARA OCEANS, POLAR CIRCLE 01/04/2013

INTERVIEW OF ROMAIN TROUBLE ON THE NEXT TARA EXPEDITION TO THE ARCTIC: TARA OCEANS, POLAR CIRCLEWe will set sail in May 2013 for the Great North. Tara will attempt to go around the Arctic Ocean via the Northeast and Northwest passages, depending on ice conditions. Most scientists and institutes already involved in Tara Oceans will take part in this project. Using methodology established for the

Happy new year! 01/02/2013

Happy new year!Still docked at the Port des Champs-Elysées, we've seen the cold rainy weather set in, and the last autumn leaves carried off by the wind. In short, winter is here and the holiday season too!For us sailors, these holidays are rather special since for the first time in several years we're on dry land, and what's more, in Paris! The opportunity to see Christmas decorations on the

DURING TARA'S STAY IN PARIS:  MEETINGS, DEBATES AND FILM PROJECTIONS ON: THE OCEAN, MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE 12/26/2012

DURING TARA'S STAY IN PARIS:  MEETINGS, DEBATES AND FILM PROJECTIONS ON: THE OCEAN, MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE  In recent years, Tara Expeditions has been invited to national and international policy meetings concerning the ocean, for example“Le Grenelle de la Mer”in France, or the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development organized by the UN. Tara is

SCIENTIFIC DOMAINS 12/22/2012

SCIENTIFIC DOMAINS  To better understand the multi-disciplinary science spanning the Tara Oceans project, here is a re-capitulation of the 12 scientific domains covered by the expedition :  Bioinformatics : merges computer science with biotic systems. This ranges from genome analysis to modeling any evolving animal population in a given environment, and includes molecular modeling, image

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF TARA OCEANS  12/22/2012

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF TARA OCEANS Plankton (viruses, bacteria, protists and small metazoans such as copepods, jellies and fish larvae) is ubiquitous in oceans, from polar to equatorial seas, from deep sea to surface layers, and from coastal to open oceans.  Having a detailed knowledge of this oceanic life system is essential for the following reasons: · Plankton biodiversity

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD 12/22/2012

Scientific Advisory Board for the OCEANS consortium    :Ginger Armbrust, Washington U., USA, Protists Liz Blackburn, UCSF, USA, Cell Biology (Nobel laureate) Rita Colwell, UMD, USA, Env. Microbiology Carlos Duarte, IMEDEA, S., Oceanography Jed Fuhrman, USC, USA, Microbio./ Ecology Paul Falkowski, Rutgers, USA, Biogeochemistry Françoise Gaill, CNRS, F, Biodiversity Frank

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS AND LABORATORIES 12/22/2012

Participating Institutions and laboratories Plankton CNRS / ENS, Paris, France - CNRS / UPMC, Paris, Roscoff, Banyuls, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France - Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy - University of Washington, Seattle, USA - ICM-CSIC, Spain - Bigelow Laboratory, USA - CNRS / IMM / IGS, CNRS / OOB - University of Arizona, USA - University of Maine, USA - EMBL,

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF TARA OCEANS 12/22/2012

Expected outcome of TARA OCEANS  It will take a lot of work during and after the expedition to interpret and understand the information contained in the collected data.  From a purely scientific point of view, this approach should allow us to establish how ecosystems of “small” organisms in the world’s oceans are structured. We will learn which viruses, bacteria, protists and small

PROGRESS REPORT - JUNE 2010 12/22/2012

PROGRESS REPORT  The Tara Oceans Expedition left the Lorient on September 5, 2009, after a year of intense technical and scientific preparation by the scientific consortium OCEANS and the Tara Expedition team.  Tara Oceans, which began 9 months ago, aims to study marine plankton ecosystems (key elements of the biosphere governing our planet’s equilibrium), from viruses to fish larvae,

PROGRESS REPORT 07/11 12/22/2012

The expedition continues... in the lab!  All for one and one for all! That famous motto could well apply to the researchers involved in the Tara Oceans Expedition. Every one a specialist in their field, the researchers analyse the data and the samples in a common endeavour to understand how marine ecosystems work. And in one sense the expedition is already a success because it has brought

THE GENOSCOPE OPENS ITS DOORS 12/22/2012

The Genoscope opens its doorsThe Genoscope opens its doors: Plankton DNA and RNA are decoded in this laboratory which makes an essential contribution to Tara Oceans Expedition.  Twenty-five machines are quietly purring in the warm light of the Indian summer. Lab assistants are bustling around a cardboard box which is giving off a fog of cold vapour. They slowly extract some frozen,

IMAGING DURING TARA OCEANS 12/22/2012

Imaging during Tara Oceans  The imaging platform onboard Tara is referred to as T.A.O.M.I. (TAra Oceans Marine biology Imaging platform). It is dedicated to marine biology and the observation of plankton organisms (from a few micrometres to one centimetre). It allows three main types of assessments: flow analysis, microscopy and macro-photography.  The flow analyses continuously measure

Broadcast on Sunday of Planet Ocean 12/22/2012

Broadcast on Sunday of Planet OceanThe film directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, will be broadcasted on Sunday December 23 at 3:40 pm on France 2 television !Planet Ocean takes us on an amazing journey over the entire planet via spectacular new aerial and underwater imagery. The film first dives into the secrets of the ocean – source of life, evolution of species, migration,

30 years after the historic Law of the Sea Convention signed at Montego Bay, what's happening about governance of the oceans ? 12/10/2012

30 years after the historic Law of the Sea Convention signed at Montego Bay, what's happening about governance of the oceans?  Oceans represent 70% of our planet's surface, of which 64% are international waters without governance. With the population explosion and the growth of large cities, our 'ecological footprint' on the oceans has more than tripled in 50 years. Regulating the high seas

UN climate Talks are stalled at Doha 12/04/2012

UN Climate Talks are stalled at Doha: The house is on fire. Look to the sea!By André Abreu, official delegate of Tara Expeditions Despite increasingly worrisome statistics about the extent of global warming and frightening forecasts of a 4°C temperature rise by 2050, confidence in global climate negotiations seems to be melting at the speed of Arctic sea ice! With the failure of

The captain's log 11/23/2012

Captain's Log: Children, the future of a « Blue Society » Although the primary purpose of TARA is the organization of international scientific expeditions to explore marine ecosystems, another equally important goal is to « share » information about our work. We aim to inform the general public, and especially children (heirs to whatever we leave them!) whose daily actions will

The captain's log 11/12/2012

The captain's logA sailboat in the city – particularly one outfitted for polar expeditions – is not a common occurrence! And as a sailor, I certainly never imagined one day navigating on the Seine. Seeing Tara in Paris really surprises people. Joggers running at a brisk pace, police or fire department speedboats – everybody stops to see the attraction! "What is this?”

Interwiew of Etienne Bourgois 10/31/2012

Interview with Etienne BourgoisThe president of Tara Expeditions gives an update on Tara's latest news.Opening of the exhibit, “Tara in Paris”. What will we discover there?This very special exhibition will take us from the vast Arctic ice pack, to the realm of plankton that makes up 98% of the ocean's biomass. It's a retrospective of 9 years of work carried out aboard

TARA IN PARIS WITH AN EXHIBITION: NOVEMBER 3 TO FEBRUARY 3 10/23/2012

TARA IN PARIS WITH AN EXHIBITION: NOVEMBER 3 TO FEBRUARY 3From November 3, 2012 to February 3, 2013, the schooner Tara will be in Paris at the Port des Champs Elysées, on the right bank, Pont Alexandre III. On the quay, an exhibit open to the public – TARA EXPEDITIONS, DISCOVERY OF A NEW WORLD: THE OCEAN – will trace for the first time the different missions of Tara Expeditions. The exhibit

From Le Havre to Paris, an unusual trip 10/19/2012

From Le Havre to Paris, an unusual tripBy Tara's captain, Loïc Vallette The adventure began in Le Havre alongside an obscure commercial quay. To get to Paris via the Seine and its bridges, we had to take down Tara’s masts: not a small undertaking. First, we began by dismantling all of the fittings and rigging. Then the booms were lowered onto the deck and the spans (“maroquins”)

In Le Havre, preparing for Paris 10/10/2012

In Le Havre, preparing for ParisTara arrived last Monday in the Paul Vatine basin of Le Havre, surrounded by renovated old docks. All week we welcomed children aboard -- classes, day camps and sailing schools.At the same time we started unrigging, and preparations for taking down the masts scheduled for next Monday afternoon.In fact we would not be able to pass under the bridges in Paris with

Tara Oceans, Chronicles of a Scientific Expedition 10/03/2012

Tara Oceans, Chronicles of a Scientific ExpeditionWritten by ERIC KARSENTI and DINO DI MEO Published by TARA EXPEDITIONS and ACTES SUD (in French only)Click here to buy itFrom September 2009 to March 2012, researchers, oceanographers and sailors voyaged aboard the research schooner Tara as part of the Tara Oceans expedition. Their ambitious goal was to conduct the first global study of coral

Interview with Chris Bowler, scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans expedition 09/21/2012

Interview with Chris Bowler, scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans expedition Our stopover in London continues. This afternoon the team of Taranautes was expected at the Maritime Museum for a screening of the first in the series of 4 documentaries made during the Tara Oceans Expedition: "The Secret World".Chris Bowler, researcher at the ENS (Ecole Normale Supérieure) in Paris, specializing

From fashion to plankton 09/20/2012

From fashion to plankton Interview with Etienne Bourgois in London by the onboard correspondant.Tara is moored at St Katharine Docks, ready to welcome visitors. Etienne Bourgois, president of Tara Expeditions and CEO of agnès b. was aboard for two days. I take this opportunity to ask him some questions. Laëtitia Maltese: Why is this stopover in London important to Tara Expeditions?Etienne

TARA IN LONDON 09/16/2012

TARA IN LONDONPress releaseAfter Dublin and before Paris, the French scientific research vessel Tara arrived in London on September 17th for a ten-day stay. The schooner has just completed a two-and-a-half year, 70,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic and Indian Oceans, investigating marine ecosystems and biodiversity under the impact of climate change.Formerly Sir Peter

Tara casts off for Roscoff 09/12/2012

Tara casts off for Roscoff   Tara is about to leave Lorient after mooring here for a month. This time was spent taking care of the schooner and doing a multitude of tasks, not urgent, but that will facilitate daily life on board. Among them was the revision of the modified electrical installation which had become a real headache for the sailors.  A layman eyeing the completed "checklist"

Tara's program through May 2013 09/05/2012

Tara's program through May 2013 Between expeditions, Tara keeps very busy! We're doing everything we can to fulfill one of our main objectives – to share with the general public what we've learned about the oceans and global warming. On a more political level, we continue to promote the 'blue agenda' as we did at Rio+20 last June. To do this, we are participating in the organization this winter

First scientific results from Tara Oceans 08/29/2012

First scientific results from Tara OceansAfter two-and-a-half years of study in all the oceans of the world, the Tara Oceans expedition will reveal some preliminary results this fall.Data includes the identification of marine species and their genomes, with an initial surprise provided by the "census of species of protists, primitive organisms which are single cells with nuclei,” says Chris

United Nations Takes Historic Initiative for the Oceans 08/14/2012

United Nations Takes Historic Initiative for the Oceans  The 12th of August in Yeosu, South Korea, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a new initiative to protect the oceans and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.  Ban Ki-moon urged countries to work together to achieve more sustainable management of this valuable resource and cited the threats

In Lorient for the summer 07/27/2012

In Lorient for the summerAfter a stopover in Ireland, and 2 others in Brittany, Tara has returned to her home port -- Lorient. She will remain here until August 25 and then attend the International Island Film Festival in Groix. A few words from Captain Loïc Vallette:Here in Lorient, we've been moored since Monday night at the submarine base right next to the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly

Fáilte! 07/26/2012

Fáilte!Emmanuel Reynaud, scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans and specialist in imagery, welcomed two weeks ago the schooner Tara and her crew in Dublin, the city where he lives. On the occasion of the major European festival called “Dublin 2012 City of Science”, many events took place for an enthusiastic public. Impressions of this stopover:Tara's silhouette appears on the horizon

Festival time in the sun 07/22/2012

Festival time in the sunAfter « Tonnerres de Brest », Tara was at Dourarnenez for the festival « Temps Fêtes ». Four days of concerts, debates, workshops and above all the magnificent spectacle of the yachts animated this charming port in the Finistère. As in Brest, crowds flocked to this summer’s great maritime event. And for a nice surprise, even the sun

Eric Karsenti fascinates scientists at the ESOF in Dublin 07/13/2012

Eric Karsenti fascinates scientists at the ESOF in DublinYesterday morning in Dublin, Eric Karsenti co-director of Tara Oceans, presented the first results of the two-and-a-half year expedition around the world, to an audience of scientists from all over Europe. Less than 4 months after Tara's return to Lorient, several publications are planned for the next 6 months. After his one-hour

Tara’s Celtic summer 07/04/2012

Tara’s Celtic summerAfter two and a half years sailing across the world during the Tara Oceans expedition, then 3 months of refitting in Lorient, the schooner is now ready to meet the European and French public, particularly in Ireland and Brittany.On Saturday, Tara will set course for the Dublin 2012 City of Science, Euroscience Open Forum, scheduled to begin on July 10. Created by

Back to life on board 06/28/2012

Back to life on board  Tara’s drydock repairs in Lorient are finished and the boat has been back in the water for 2 weeks now. The crew is onboard again and finding their bearings. With six people, there’s plenty of room and we each have a cabin – same cabin as during the expedition, but now only one of the 2 berths is occupied. What a great luxury.  We are working and getting

Meeting with filmmakers of Planet Ocean 06/20/2012

Meeting with filmmakers of Planet OceanOn the occasion of Rio+20 and the GoodPlanet festival, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot presented the world premiere of their film "Planet Ocean". From the sky to the abysses, this documentary, produced by Hope with support from Omega and in association with Tara Expeditions, alerts us to the situation of the world's oceans. We interviewed the

PLANET OCEAN FILM – REVEALING MARINE MAJESTY 06/20/2012

PLANET OCEAN FILM – REVEALING MARINE MAJESTYThe premiere of Planet Ocean at the Rio+20 Summit presents outstanding aerial and underwater ocean views from across more than 20 countries to illustrate and educate the audience about the beauty covering the surface of our planet and the challenges we have forced upon the marine ecosystems we depend on.Planet Oceans was produced by Hope with Omega's

Tara Expeditions at Rio +20: half-way through the Earth Summit 06/19/2012

Tara Expeditions at Rio +20: half-way through the Earth SummitRomain Troublé, secretary general of Tara Expeditions, reminds us of the reasons and implications of Tara's participation in the Earth Summit in Rio and Peoples 20.André Abreu, Tara Expeditions representative in Brazil, explains the preparation of the meeting and the results so far, halfway through the event. How

Rio+20 : Ocean issues 06/18/2012

Rio+20 : Ocean issuesThe ocean — at the heart of the Earth System, essential for human survivalIt is very hard to overstate the importance of the global ocean, which encompasses every sea and ocean on our planet. A critical player in the Earth System, the ocean is central to climate regulation, the hydrological and carbon cycles and nutrient flows, balances levels of atmospheric gases, and is a

To Rio - Save the oceans ! 06/14/2012

To Rio - Save the oceans!Rio+20 is fast approaching. Just 6 days until the summit meeting about our planet and our future! The event is huge: almost 130 heads of state and government, tens of thousands of local government officials, NGOs, representatives of industry, activists, etc. are invited to meet in the second largest city of Brazil to try and save our planet.But as the festivities

“THE BLUE EARTH SUMMIT” – WHY OCEAN PROTECTION MUST WIN AT RIO+20 06/08/2012

“THE BLUE EARTH SUMMIT” – WHY OCEAN PROTECTION MUST WIN AT RIO+20Making waves at Rio+20

Tara Expeditions at Rio+20 06/01/2012

Tara Expeditions at Rio+20Twenty years after the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and ten years after the Johannesburg Summit 2002, protection of our ecosystems and sustainable development will again be on the agenda at the Summit in Rio in June, 2012. Tara Expeditions will participate in the program.Etienne Bourgois, Romain Troublé and André Abreu, respectively Tara Expedition's president, secretary

The best logs 05/25/2012

The best logsThis week, we invite you to rediscover the best Tara Oceans logs, from September 2009 to March 2012.Happy reading!March 2012Thank you Lorient!Today, Saturday, March 31, 2012, Tara came back to her home port after a two-and-a half-year expedition covering 115,000 km. A passionate reunion shared with the people of Lorient who gave us a wonderful welcome, full of respect and fervor. We

The Fate of the Oceans at Rio+20 05/24/2012

The Fate of the Oceans at Rio+20  Background and Introduction  As part of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio +20, the agenda of the oceans occupies an important place in the text that will be submitted to heads of state next June. The big "historical" questions of the past thirty years are on the agenda - fishing quotas, the governance of high seas, protected

Shipyard in Lorient: the current flows 05/10/2012

Shipyard in Lorient: the current flows A boat, like a house, requires electricity. At dock this is very simple. We just have to plug into the port's power. But at sea it's more complicated: we need to generate our own electricity.Energy doesn't necessarily come from the sky. This would be possible thanks to wind turbines or solar panels, but Tara doesn't have enough room on deck to accommodate

The Taraddiction, a social phenomenon?   05/06/2012

The Taraddiction, a social phenomenon?  “Taraddiction” is an addiction to Tara! A rather unknown pathology, but we sailors are the first to feel the effects! This can be explained by saying that we're passionate about taking part in such an adventure, and it’s true! But beyond this aspect, any of us can tell you that every time, we feel something powerful inside us, almost

GONE WITH THE SAMPLES 05/02/2012

GONE WITH THE SAMPLES Every time the Tara makes landfall Rainer Friedrich, project coordinator at World Courier, has to organize the complex logistical operation of transferring the samples collected at sea to European and American laboratories. His role is essential. Interview.What is the best way to transport samples? The best way to ensure the success of such a demanding enterprise is to have

The new Tara Expeditions artists' gallery is now on-line ! 04/23/2012

The new Tara Expeditions artists' gallery is now on-line !This gallery exhibits online the work of artists who have embarked on the schooner Tara since 2004. For Tara Expeditions, the presence of artists creating their work on board is a way of contributing a different vision of the environment. Artists were invited aboard as observers during the scientific expeditions, and recounted their

Back to the starting block 04/11/2012

Back to the starting blockAfter an amazing arrival in Lorient, then a full week devoted to the visits of school kids aboard Tara, the last few days have been used to make room on the boat. First the scientists dismantled, stored or took back their equipment, including everything from microscopes in the dry lab to the rosette, pumps, nets and filters of all kinds. Then everyone departed. What an

Visitors aboard Tara 04/05/2012

Visitors aboard TaraSince the beginning of this week in Lorient, Tara has welcomed a constant stream of visitors. The whole week was devoted to this – 800 children and young people came aboard the boat – all ages, from pre-schoolers to students of naval architecture, everyone passionately interested in the scientific research schooner.Certain groups have been preparing their visit for long

Expedition photos to make you dream... 04/02/2012

Expedition photos to make you dream... Vincent Hilaire, photo-journalist aboard Tara, and Julien Girardot, photographer-cook during the Tara Oceans expedition, exhibited their photos at the Palais des Congrès in Lorient. Two artists, two styles, two visions, but a common passion: photography, and a unique subject: Tara. Tell us about your exhibit:Vincent:“From one pole to the

Thank you Lorient! 03/31/2012

Thank you Lorient!Today, Saturday, March 31, 2012, Tara came back to her home port after a two-and-a half-year expedition covering 115,000 km. A passionate reunion shared with the people of Lorient who gave us a wonderful welcome, full of respect and fervor. We were accompanied by well-wishers and Breton bagpipes for most of the afternoon under a generous sun, from Groix Island to the Belem dock

Look at Tara's return in Lorient 03/31/2012

Follow live Tara's return to LorientFrom 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31. The schooner accompanied by an armada of boats arrive Groix and present to the outer harbor of Lorient to complete his expedition to 2 1/2 years around the world to 4:30 p.m.This return is the opportunity to make a feedback with scientists and partners in this adventure. A podium led by Jean-Louis Castelli Of France-Inter will

Expedition memories: Sarah & Marc 03/30/2012

Expedition memories: Sarah & MarcJust before our arrival in Lorient, this last chapter of “Expedition Memories” is a tribute to the oceanographic engineers aboard Tara. Tirelessly, and sometimes with very challenging wind & weather conditions, Sarah Searson and Marc Picheral, assisted by many other oceanographers during this two-and-a-half year expedition, launched various instruments

The countdown 03/29/2012

The countdownSince yesterday, with seventeen people aboard, Tara is heading towards Lorient, the last destination of Tara Oceans. After leaving the Spanish coast early in the night, the schooner is now under sail, and we've already traveled a third of the 330 miles of this final stage. All of us are living intensely the final moments of this expedition. Here's what is going through the minds of

Ahoy!…A Coruña 03/28/2012

Ahoy!…A CoruñaAfter a return voyage across the Atlantic accompanied by fair weather, we arrived at the northwestern tip of Spain on Tuesday. It's the last stop before Lorient. We're coming to the end of this adventure with a certain nostalgia, but also the satisfaction of an immense distance traveled, and the quality of the work accomplished. As the sun rose, we knew that a good day was in

Coming full circle 03/27/2012

Coming full circle This evening, a few miles off the Spanish coast, close to where the very first station of the Tara Oceans expedition took place, we lowered the rosette into the sea one last time. This was a symbolic sampling – a reminder of the earliest immersions in our global hunt for plankton. According to the tradition in oceanography, the end of this two-and-a-half year mission

The last station 03/25/2012

The last station Saturday, March 24, 2012 was a real milestone. In the Atlantic Ocean, 300 nautical miles from the Spanish coast, the Tara Oceans Expedition ended. This was the 153rd and last station of an extraordinary adventure: Two-and-a-half years of collecting marine organisms in oceans all over the world. “It's a real success, the fruit of hard work,” said Eric Karsenti,

The Olympic Triangle 03/21/2012

The Olympic TriangleSince Wednesday morning, Tara is under sail. We have no particuliar destination because we must stay in the area where we are now, to do the final sampling station of the expedition.Our captain, Loïc Vallette decided to improvise an Olympic course between three imaginary buoys, as a way to stay active as the sea gets rougher, and also to enjoy using sail power –

The Final Bouquet 03/20/2012

The Final BouquetWe are more than 355 nautical miles from La Coruña (Spain), and this morning we've started the next to last station of Tara Oceans Expedition. This will be followed at the end of the week by another identical station. Why study twice, and just a few days apart, the same body of water?Since strong winds are expected between these two samplings, Stéphane Pesant,

Expedition Memories, part 2 03/19/2012

Expedition Memories, part 2From the Indian Ocean to Antarctica via French Polynesia, Céline Dimier-Hugueney and François Noël are mainstays of Tara Oceans. Céline is a biologist, and François chief engineer. Besides devoting several months of their life to the expedition, they both brought along skills and strong motivationCéline Dimier-Hugueney, biologist (a year and a half aboard):Your

Expedition memories, part 1 03/19/2012

Expedition memories, part 1As the Tara Oceans Expedition comes to an end, day after day, picture after picture, the conversations on board increasingly revolve around memories. “You remember the Gambier Islands…and the icebergs in Antarctica.” Although this expedition is not over, meetings in the mess room resemble more and more veterans' reunions! Between nostalgia, intense memories and

Goodbye Azores ! 03/16/2012

Goodbye Azores !On Thursday Tara was out in the Atlantic Ocean again after nearly 24 hours navigating through the labyrinth of this Portuguese archipelago towards San Miquel, the last island in this direction. We finally left behind the Azores and its capital city, Punta Delgada, on Friday.The few days spent in these islands were really very pleasant. We found everything there that makes the

At Quay in Horta 03/12/2012

At Quay in Horta Yesterday, at eight o’clock in the morning, Tara and her fourteen occupants landed in the main city of Faial Island in the Azores.A mixture of relief, joy, excitement, and even nostalgia for some of us -- and certainly one more step bringing us closer to the end of this expedition.It’s four o’clock in the morning when I take my turn at night-watch as we approach the

Rite of spring 03/06/2012

Rite of springAfter sailing downwind for three days, this Monday we are no more than 450 miles from the Azores, and the port of Horta on Faial Island, our next stopover. We resumed sampling today in relatively cold water, 18°C. This is our 150th station since the start of the expedition.One sample, containing numerous fish larvae and eggs, marked the beginning of spring in the ocean,

Fishing for the Origins of Life 03/03/2012

Fishing for the Origins of LifeSaturday March 3: We have only 650 miles to go before reaching the Azores. We’re sailing over depths of 5,000 meters, approaching the Atlantic ridge, the spinal column that characterizes the bottom center of the Atlantic Ocean.With the different sampling stations done since Bermuda and those still to come before we arrive at Horta Island, our chief scientist Chris

The countdown has begun 03/01/2012

The countdown has begunIt's March 1st. Mars is a planet, but it's also the month of our arrival in Lorient, in just 30 days. Two and a half years of navigation. We're hoping lots of people will come to welcome us home! In the meanwhile, we continue fishing for the infinitely small, and much work remains to be done.The rosette “Rosie” is back to normal again. The weather is

A message from the Atlantic 02/29/2012

A message from the AtlanticChris Bowler, one of the principal scientific coordinators of Tara Oceans, is aboard as chief scientist for the 3rd time since the beginning of the expedition. After Dubrovnik-Athens and Puerto Montt-Valparaiso, this new leg between the Bermudas and the Azores will be his longest stretch on board – a transatlantic voyage covering 1,800 nautical miles, or a little more

Starting the return voyage 02/27/2012

Starting the return voyageYesterday afternoon we finished the BATS station off the coast of Bermuda faster than expected – a station that researchers have been studying since 1988. With 14 people aboard Tara headed northeast under sail, carried by a strong tailwind of 25 to 30 knots.After this very rapid pace, we all felt happy when on Sunday afternoon, the steady wind and huge waves (as high

Stopover at St. George’s (Bermuda) 02/23/2012

Stopover at St. George’s (Bermuda)On the eve of our departure for the Azores, one might say that this stopover, a bit longer than expected, gave the crew a welcome chance to rest and properly prepare the return crossing of the North Atlantic.Part of the new scientific team arrived safely yesterday, exhausted after sometimes 20 hour-flights. Tomorrow early in the afternoon we’ll head east,

Tara is in Bermuda 02/19/2012

Tara is in BermudaIn a drizzling rain that reminded us of Brittany, we arrived early Sunday afternoon in the archipelago of 123 islands called 'the Bermudas'. After approaching by the western flank of the main island, Bermuda, we followed the coast to the entry channel of the town of St. George, on the island called St. George's. Here there will be a complete turnover of the scientific team, and

In the heart of an eddy 02/17/2012

In the heart of an eddySince Wednesday morning, the scientific team aboard Tara has been tracking an “eddy”, a whirlpool in the North Atlantic Ocean. Studying this cold water column – about 180 kilometers in diameter – will tell us what planktonic organisms live within it, and will also help us understand how and why such whirlpools sustain life in oligotrophic zones poor in nutrients,

Good Bye Big Apple 02/13/2012

Good Bye Big AppleOn Sunday morning around 9:30 New York time, Tara sailed away from Chelsea Pier. As part of the Tara Oceans expedition, we are beginning a new leg of the round-the-world voyage that will take us to Bermuda, on our way home to Lorient, France.Two scientific stations are scheduled once we're in the Gulf Stream again. Very cold weather, a strong wind from the northwest with gusts

Tara's stop-over in New York and meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations 02/11/2012

Tara's stop-over in New York and meeting with the Secretary General of the United NationsFor the last and most important stop-over in the USA, the Tara team had a series of strategic meetings in New York, before heading out to sea for the return trip to Lorient, France. Besides the many schools that came aboard to visit, public conferences, and various encounters with prominent Americans,

New York, 8 million inhabitants, the Big Apple. 02/09/2012

New York, 8 million inhabitants, the Big Apple.In New York, time doesn’t count. Life never stops beating. Sleep doesn’t exist. Noise is constant and everywhere. Lights never go out. It’s been five centuries since Jehan Angot, a ship-owner from Dieppe, France, financed Verrazzano’s North American expedition. New York harbor has been pinpointed on the globe ever since. New York

agnès b. greets Tara in New York 02/09/2012

agnès b. greets Tara in New York Wednesday afternoon, just as snowflakes were beginnning to dust Tara’s deck, agnès b came aboard. Greetings, hugs, and emotion for the fashion designer who hadn’t seen her schooner for quite a long time.Television crew, photographers – these visits are always special events for the people on board. Agnès is very warm, interested and relaxed. She transmits

Tara at the Explorers Club, NYC 02/07/2012

Tara at the Explorers Club, NYCNew York’s famous Explorers Club hosted Tara Oceans Expedition on Monday evening. Every Monday the Club organizes lectures for its members and the public. On February 6th the protagonists of Tara Oceans were invited to present their work. The room was packed, as all seats had been booked for a week. A rare success according to the Club’s secretary. After a brief

Daniel Cron, Tara’s Chief Mechanic: logbook 02/07/2012

New York! A symbolic stopover, which many of us can’t wait to experience; a name that crystallizes lifelong dreams -- especially for people like me who discover this city for the first time. What an experience!As I began my night watch at 4am, we were sailing towards the mouth of the Hudson River. And as the sun rose, the night-veiled sky gave way to a deep blue and an incessant ballet of

Tara docked in NYC at the foot of Freedom Tower 02/05/2012

Tara docked in NYC at the foot of Freedom TowerSunday morning around 6:30, with the brilliant sun scarcely compensating for the 2° C temperature, Tara began her final approach to New York City. The first skyscrapers began to appear on the horizon, breaking the surface of the ocean where we'd seen no construction for eleven days. We were still 25 nautical miles from New York, about 45

Catherine Chabaud’s Log 01/31/2012

Catherine Chabaud’s Log Hello everyone. It’s 9am Tuesday January 31st aboard Tara as I write these lines. The sky is totally blue, the sea has white-caps again. Surprisingly, we haven’t seen any seabirds (or very few) and no marine mammals.   The Sargasso Sea (named for the drifting seaweed so common here) is a desert, at least in appearance, since the plankton collecting nets are

Catherine Chabaud’s logbook 01/29/2012

Catherine Chabaud’s logbookHello everyone.How can I express my happiness at being aboard Tara, drifting off the coast of Cape Hatteras,unless I tell you how privileged I feel to be in the midst of this ocean exploration, spending time with scientists discovering the infinitely small – “sea dust” to borrow the expression of Anita Conti when she spoke of plankton. I

Tara leaves Savannah 01/27/2012

Tara leaves Savannah At 10 o’clock local time, Tara and her 15-member crew navigated down the Savannah River to the North Atlantic Ocean. We’re headed for New York, with 2 scientific stations programmed along the way, including one in the famous warm current of the Gulf Stream.The fog was heavy this morning, but lifted an hour before we raised anchor. For a long time, the Eugene

Tara soon in the Gulf Stream 01/25/2012

Tara soon in the Gulf StreamTara arrived Friday, January 20th in Savannah, Georgia, in the southeastern United States. On Thursday, the schooner will set sail for New York, and during this leg will sample seawater from the region where of the Gulf Stream begins. Among the 15 crew members, the navigator and journalist Catherine Chabaud, embarked on this leg and re-discovered Tara with open joy.

Back in the USA 01/23/2012

Back in the USAFriday, January 20: the American flag is floating above Tara. We arrived this morning in Savannah, Georgia. One leg of our voyage is over; before the next one begins, the crew is enjoying a very warm welcome offered by this small city on the east coast.It took nearly 2 months for Tara to go from one coast to the other, heading south past Mexico then cutting across Central

Thermal shock… 01/17/2012

Thermal shock…The last long station of this “Panama-Savannah” leg has just begun in briskly cool weather that Tara has not experienced for months. On deck the scientists seem to miss the blazing sun that followed us since Panama; but below Tara’s hull the current carrying us is still under the sign of the tropics. Entering the Gulf of Mexico, we went from suffocating heat to mild,

Going with the current 01/09/2012

Going with the currentAfter skirting the Panama coast to Mexico by way of Belize (and a cinematographic interlude with Yann Arthus Bertrand), Tara is now in the Gulf of Mexico. The pace is building up as we finally get down to scientific business. Our course takes us north, following the marine currents.For Loïc the captain, this leg is really split in two, “We were relatively calm

Two Station, Two Teams 01/02/2012

Two Station, Two TeamsNew year, new ocean, new team, but the same objective. For the 7 scientists who recently embarked aboard Tara, the Panama Canal was the perfect place to relay with the other team: the first station of this new leg was almost exactly the same as the last station of the preceding leg. Just before entering the Panama Canal, Gabriel and his team were able at the last

From one ocean to another 12/29/2011

From one ocean to anotherDuring Tara’s long journey since leaving Lorient in September 2009, the sailboat- laboratory has passed through many legendary places and had some very memorable experiences. Going through the Panama Canal has just been added to the list. This morning we left the Pacific Ocean, and now we’re here on the other side of the continent, sailing in Atlantic

A very special Christmas 12/25/2011

A very special Christmas While our families and friends on the other side of the world were preparingtraditional holiday festivities, a scent of exoticism floated on the deck of Tara in preparation for a very unusual Christmas. Beneath the coconut trees of Panama, it’s not easy to feel the holiday spirit ! After a constant rhythm of comings and goings, departures and arrivals,

The Lost World 12/19/2011

The Lost World“Let’s not get excited,” we’ve been telling ourselves for the past few days aboard Tara. After a disappointment at Clipperton 10 days ago, the announcement that we will probably pass close to Isla del Coco (another legendary island in the north Pacific) could eventually cause even more disappointment. The previous day, the decision to schedule a last

A Day on Clipperton – almost. 12/09/2011

A Day on Clipperton – almost. The entire crew was waiting impatiently to spend a day on Clipperton, this tiny island lost in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean. A mixture of excitement, but also apprehension: would we be able to set foot on this legendary island? Would the sea allow us this chance? Find the answer in the following account of a very unusual day. It’s 6 am,

Scientists on deck 12/02/2011

Scientists on deckThroughout the day, a kind of effervescence animated the deck and laboratories. With motors off and Tara immobile in the ocean, a strange ballet was performed; seabirds swirling over the boat were the only audience. At last the new team’s first sampling station had begun.After cancellation of the first station, some of us were becoming impatient. These past few days,

Cut off from the world 11/29/2011

Cut off from the worldAfter leaving San Diego a couple of days ago, we’re alone somewhere in the middle of the North Pacific. A week ago, 15 people who barely knew each other set out to spend a month together on a 36-meter sailboat. We're people of all ages, coming from different places and backgrounds. Let’s meet the 15 “Jonas” of the “whale” called Tara.Slowly, everyone is

Jean-Louis Etienne visits Tara 11/22/2011

Jean-Louis Etienne visits Tara The French explorer had an emotional rendez-vous with his former sailboat “Antarctica”, now called Tara. This was the occasion to share with the crew many memories linked to the boat since its construction in 1989. Tara has come a long way since then!Today, Tara continues its outreach program by hosting over 50 students from the San Diego French

Tara prepares to leave San Diego 11/21/2011

Tara prepares to leave San DiegoTara prepares to take her leave of San Diego after a busy and productive visit. The expedition’s last two public events were well attended. On Nov. 16, Romain Troublé was the guest of honor and spoke at a Commodore’s Luncheon at the San Diego Yacht Club. The next day, the San Diego French-American School invited Romain to show the Tara documentary film and

Tara in dry dock 11/15/2011

Tara in dry dockIt’s been a long time since Tara has come onto dry land: the last time was in summer 2010. Sailing the Pacific, even among those enchanted islands, unfortunately left serious scars (torn sails, one broken engine, etc). All this requires dry dock repairs. It’s time to do more than apply a band-aid. We’re now in the world of sailors: the daily grind of the dry docks, hot

Tara in San Diego 11/07/2011

Tara in San DiegoSan Diego media and VIPs turned out on Oct. 27 to welcome Tara to San Diego in style. On the Maritime Museum dock in front of the vessel, Dr. Stephane Richard of French BioBeach launched the press conference by welcoming Port of San Diego Chairman Scott Peters, who presented Tara with an official Port of San Diego proclamation.“We recognize the importance of this marine

Welcome to San Diego 10/28/2011

Welcome to San DiegoOn Wednesday 26 October, we glimpse the California coast, first sign that a world exists and is waiting for us beyond the seemingly boundless ocean. Whales accompany us into the bay. Then we see a bunch of white sails. All of Tara’s team is there to escort the boat to San Diego’s Maritime Museum Port. Tara takes her place among the “Surprise” (the

San Diego Prepares to Welcome Tara 10/26/2011

San Diego Prepares to Welcome Tara When Tara arrives in San Diego on October 26 for a three-week stopover, she will be greeted with excitement and pomp by America’s Finest City’s officials and scientific community, which includes the University of California, San Diego, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, among others. Starting with a boat parade to escort the vessel into the

Approaching California 10/25/2011

Approaching California On Saturday, October 22, we begin the last sampling station of our leg between Honolulu and San Diego, 200 nautical miles from the American coast. The sky is grey, water temperature is 16º C, and on deck, the crew is bustling about in heavy gear. The sailors and scientists are all nostalgic, having left behind beautiful Hawaiian weather, and hope that the famed California

After the rain, fair weather 10/16/2011

After the rain, fair weatherHaving crossed a very stormy sea with gusts of wind up to 35 knots, we finally arrive at the heart of the low pressure zone. Our main sail got badly torn, and we spent the last period of navigation on deck, attached to security harnesses, watching the wild sea unfurl and spray us with salty cascades. François Aurat, during his night watch : « 2h30, 29 knots

Rainy Days 10/12/2011

Rainy DaysOn Monday, October 10th we enjoy what turns out to be our last sunny day using wind power. Marc Picheral, Claudie Marec and Martin Herteau put the rosette (CTD) into the water for the 500th time since the beginning of the expedition – an anniversary we celebrate with a cocktail/dinner party. In the cockpit, a quick look at the weather forecast warns us what to expect in the days

Big samples 10/10/2011

Big samplesOn Friday October 7, 2011, it’s 02:00 in the morning, and I’m on the night shift with Yohann until 04:00. Lights are off and we’re keeping track of the boat from the cockpit. The moon is setting on the horizon and Tara is plunged into complete darkness. The clear sky unveils a multitude of stars illuminating the ocean all by themselves. At the back of the schooner we can see

Spotty Plastic 10/07/2011

Spotty PlasticWednesday October 5th, we successfully finished the second long station of the leg between Honolulu (Hawaii) and San Diego (California). Our second sampling done with the Manta trawl (a surface net designed to collect plastic) is less loaded with plastic than the sampling we did yesterday. Meanwhile, in the dry lab scientist Jeremie Capoulade observes with astonishment the

Plastic Continent Ahoy! 10/06/2011

Plastic Continent Ahoy!On Tuesday October 4, as we reach latitude 31º N, for the first time we encounter some floating plastic rubbish. We’ve arrived at the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. It’s a first “triumph” because the studies on plastic distribution in the north Pacific by the Charles Moore Algalita Foundation (1999-2008) showed unpredictable locations.A modeling of ocean

Approaching the « plastic continent » 10/05/2011

Approaching the « plastic continent »Saturday, October 1, 2011, we complete the “ALOHA” station when the multinet brings in the last samples. Then in the middle of the night, we take off again. Winds from the east blow are blowing in the direction opposite to where we want to go. Since the the boat cannot head into the wind, Hervé (Tara’s captain) is obliged to change course and

Welcome to Paradise 09/27/2011

Welcome to ParadiseAfter a 20-hour trip, I finally landed in Honolulu. It’s 20:30 local time, a 12- hour time difference with Paris. A voice echoes in the cabin of the plane: “Welcome to paradise”. The taxi driver is Palestinian and drops me at the Aloha Tower port entrance. I wheel my luggage through a deserted shopping center, towards 2 gray masts jutting out over the concrete buildings.

Hawaii, Last Stop in Polynesia 09/21/2011

Hawaii, Last Stop in Polynesia  Under the starry sky, a halo of light tells us we’re approaching Honolulu. With sails trimmed (since one got torn) Tara glides slowly through the water. We’re finally reaching Hawaii after more than 3 months navigating around Polynesia. Our route has paralleled that of the first great navigators – not the first European explorers, but the

Kiribati : Islands on borrowed time 09/09/2011

Kiribati: Islands on borrowed timeAt the end of this equatorial afternoon, Tara sails along the reef, leeward of Christmas Island. The stormy sky blends with the ocean, darkened by imposing black clouds driven by the trade winds.Through the sea spray we can make out the shore which doesn’t exceed 3 meters average in height. This atoll, considered the largest and oldest in the

Leaving the Society Islands 08/30/2011

Leaving the Society IslandsThis morning is the end of our stopover at Papeete’s commercial port. Tara is about to leave the dock with a new scientific team. Our friends have come to say good-bye with traditional seashell necklaces offered at Polynesian departures. The foghorn signals the setting of sails to new destinations and with a heavy heart, the hawsers mooring us to land are thrown off.

Hunting for the Gyre 08/05/2011

Hunting for the GyreWe're searching for a whirlpool* formed by winds of the Marquises Islands. This particular whirlpool shows up on satellite maps because it contains enough iron to promote plankton proliferation – exactly the phenomenon we're looking for. On maps we can clearly see, detached from Nuku Hiva Island, a red spiral* being pushed by currents towards the southwest.We receive maps

Questions for Fabrice Not, chief scientist on the Marquesas Islands leg 07/29/2011

Questions for Fabrice Not, chief scientist on the Marquesas Islands legWe are starting on a 10-day leg around the Marquesas Islands, with Fabrice Not, biologist at the Roscoff Marine Station, as chief scientist. Three other scientists have joined the team of the preceding tour for this special mission: Pierre Testor, Fabrizio d’Ortenzio and Steffi Kandels-Lewis. This new leg in waters

Coral Mission Accomplished ! 07/13/2011

Coral Mission Accomplished ! The weekend is over and with it, our mission to study coral reefs. The last days have required strategic planning, “like a game of chess” according to Hervé Bourmaud the captain, playing with capricious weather conditions. But Sunday after the last dive, the scientists had big smiles: our program was successfully completed. The dives

Back to the Village! 07/06/2011

Back to the Village!Back to the village! We’ve returned to the dock at Rikitea so that the scientists can have a day off. The pace of the work is exhausting - two dives a day. "When I start to feel like I don’t want to go diving, I have to stop": Francesca knows that you have to be careful and listen to your body when diving. We’re not here to break records, health and safety is the

Gambier Islands, 4 new species of coral 06/30/2011

Gambier Islands, 4 new species of coral Tara has adopted her ‘coral rhythm’. Finished the long distances of the preceding leg between Guayaquil (Ecuador) and the islands of French Polynesia. We are now almost sedentary, staying for 2 weeks in the lagoon of the Gambier Islands. From our mooring, each day 2 pneumatic boats take Francesca, Connie and the 2 Erics to

Scientific observations made in the Gambier Islands will be shared 06/27/2011

Scientific observations made in the Gambier Islands will be sharedWe’ve been in the Gambier Islands more than a week already, but we’d love time, and Air Tahiti, to stand still, so we could all stay here a bit longer on the edge of this lagoon.But the hour has come, as have the new teams. Saturday’s flight took off carrying the 10 ‘oldies’ from the previous completed leg

Questions and answers with the team 06/17/2011

Questions and answers with the team They’ve been onboard for a month, and others for more than 12 weeks. Nigel, François, and Sophie confide their thoughts to the onboard journalist: their best and worst moments on Tara, the sounds they like or dislike, what they miss, etc… Nigel Grimsley Chief scientist, embarked at Guayaquil (Ecuador) on May 19, he landed at Gambier Islands on June 22.

Capricious weather 06/12/2011

Capricious weather Totally dependent on weather conditions, we try to set up a schedule for the next few days of sampling stations. The Gambier Islands seem within sailing distance away and the time until we arrive at our destination is getting short. But it’s challenging to plan sampling stations that depend upon forecasts for a totally unpredictable wind. Looks like the ‘weather

Rising swell 06/06/2011

Rising swellScientific Station No. 111 is completed and a new ritual has begun which we will be performing for the next 10 days: the daily immersion of the ‘CTD’* rosette to take oceanographic recordings and samplings.3pm, the sails are reduced and Tara heads windward. The rosette is lowered into the water and the cable uncoils into the depths. An hour later the rosette has returned, is

En route for a scientific station ! 05/30/2011

En route for a scientific station! For the last few days Tara has been sailing between two routes. Various options are available to us regarding the next few scientific stations. Discussions are underway between Tara and the labs in Villefranche sur mer, Roscoff and Bremen, to determine the optimal program. Storage space on board Tara can only stretch so far, so each sampling site must be well

The Galapagos/Guayaquil leg is over 05/20/2011

The Galapagos/Guayaquil leg is over Monday, after the long trip up the Rio Guayas leading to the city, we finally arrive at dock, but unlike our first visit to Guayaquil, when the boat was anchored in the marina right on the Malecon promenade, this time we’re exiled to the commercial port. No more visits of officials or meeting with school groups. Our stopover this time is logistic:

Evening showers 05/15/2011

Evening showers We celebrated the end of the long scientific stations with an aperitif. The intensity of uninterrupted work lasting almost 3 days subsides, and our minds can drift again, no longer concentrating on getting the job done without fail. During the stations, time is precious and can’t be wasted. Everything is planned and must be carried out perfectly. The boat now continues its

Welcome aboard 05/11/2011

Welcome aboard  Saturday 12:30 local time. After traveling for 20 hours, I arrive at my destination: the island of Baltra in the Galapagos archipelago. I’ve come to meet up with Tara, newly arrived in port this morning At each stopover, changes take place: new people arrive to replace those who are leaving. Crew members take turns over the two and a half years of the expedition.

From violet to green via blue… Tara blazes a trail 05/02/2011

From violet to green via blue… Tara blazes a trailNational and international oceanographic campaigns tend to target specific regions which they study according to a fairly strict sampling interval, resulting in a detailed understanding of an ecosystem’s dynamics in time and space. However the range of parameters measured varies considerably from one campaign to another, and this can often

Docked at Malecon 2000 (Guayaquil) 04/27/2011

Docked at Malecon 2000 Goodbye to the blue South Pacific Ocean, welcome to the green waters of the Jambeli Channel. On Monday, an Ecuadorian pilot came aboard Tara to guide Loic, our captain, on this river navigation. It takes about 4 hours to go up the Rio Guayas, bordered with mangroves, to reach the dock at Malecon 2000, located in the heart of Guayaquil. On the way the schooner

Festival of marine visitors 04/26/2011

Festival of marine visitorsTara came across a few boats over the last few days, before arriving at Guayaquil, they were mainly fishing boats. Although on the surface people don’t have much of a presence here, below the ocean, readings and observations reveal that the marine world is full of inhabitants. Two hundred and twenty nautical miles from the Peruvian coast, the clear blue sea of the

Not a typical station, a unique oceanographic phenomenon 04/18/2011

Not a typical station, a unique oceanographic phenomenonAfter 48 hours of sampling north of the South Pacific tropical front, Tara’s crew made a final, somewhat atypical immersion: a Nisken, one of the Rosette bottles, was filled with fruit cocktail! Wearing dresses and shirts, sailors and scientists plunged the bottle to 100 meters depth, before toasting this 100th station. Under an almost

The hundredth scientific station* kicks off. 04/15/2011

The hundredth scientific station* kicks off.Yesterday morning at 9.30, the rosette was immersed into a fairly choppy sea in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, kicking off the hundredth scientific station. Operations should have begun 24 hours earlier but the small cyclonic whirlpool from which the scientists wanted to take samples had migrated a little further north. After a night of

Back to the South Pacific Gyre 04/06/2011

Back to the South Pacific GyreAfter a 3 day stopover at Easter Island, Tara returns to the seas with a new scientific team on board. The Moai silhouettes disappeared on the horizon a few nautical miles ago and the team finds themselves once again in the midst of this vertiginous vast blue ocean. It was a short respite for the rosette and its accomplice Sarah Searson. Under a withering sun, the

Rapa Nui: hidden gem of the South Pacific 04/01/2011

Rapa Nui: hidden gem of the South PacificOn a rainy morning, after 21 days at sea, Easter Island appears before our eyes. The big dark clouds that fill the sky contrast with the white spume from the waves crashing on the jagged rocks. Like a natural fortress, surrounded by the sea, Easter Island, aka Rapa Nui in Polynesian, seems to want to discourage us from landing on its shores.Its

Flags of the world aboard Tara 03/28/2011

Flags of the world aboard TaraPaths crossedCurrently at Easter Island, Tara welcomes aboard Leila Tirichine, researcher and Lee Karp-Boss, chief scientist.If Leïla and Lee had to display the colours of their country, it would be difficult for them to choose one single flag. Following the tradition aboard Tara, they would hoist the flag of their country of origin, plus another one in honour of

Bongo and Co 03/25/2011

Bongo and CoAt latitude 29º South, and longitude 101º West, Tara’s crew has just finished its 96th station on the border of the South Pacific gyre. No doubt about it, water temperature and salinity have risen, and nutrient density has decreased. The first results confirm that we’re in the immediate vicinity of an oceanic desert, where planktonic organisms become more rare, are smaller and

Alone in the South Pacific 03/20/2011

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Alone in the South PacificNo freighter on the horizon, no boat visible on the radar. Has this maritime route been forgotten by sailors? Not even a trace of an airplane in the sky. Mankind seems to have deserted these parts. With every passing

On the Trail of Robinson Crusoe 03/17/2011

On the Trail of Robinson CrusoeLand! Land in sight! Crew members hastily don life-jackets and rush outside on deck. Aboard Tara, maps and modern navigation instruments have not diminished the excitement we feel at the sight of land. All sails unfurled, the schooner heads for the Juan Fernandez Islands, located 670 km from the Chilean coast. Comprised of three islands — Santa Clara,

Escaping the tsunami! 03/12/2011

Escaping the tsunami!Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 22:00 hours. On board Tara, it’s euphoria! In the black of night, the crew’s faces are lit up with joy. Who would have thought that a generator’s soft whine could make so many people happy? After exhaustive testing, the GE2 is finally repaired. The Chilean experts are leaving, relieved in spite of being seasick. Tara will take to the open

In the Wake of Kon-Tiki 03/07/2011

In the Wake of Kon-TikiIn 2 days Tara will leave the port of Valparaiso, headed for the most isolated island in the world, the famous and legendary Easter Island. We are preparing to sail 2,100 marine miles during the course of which the researchers will carry out 3 long sampling stations.The new team is present and ready: 7 sailors and 7 scientists, including Marcela, official observer for the

Arrival at Valparaiso 02/27/2011

Arrival at ValparaisoThis Saturday morning at 9am, the nets began to filter the surface and depths of the Chilean continental shelf. Very quickly the oxygen-free zone was found to be closer to the surface, compared to the last station sampled the day before - only 50 meters this time instead of the 90 meters before.“This means that all life is concentrated in this layer, where we’ve found

Next Stop Valparaiso 02/21/2011

Next Stop Valparaiso After four days at the Marina Oxxean (Puerto Montt) we took to the seas today for new adventures. At Puerto Montt, the scientific team was changed, food supplies were bought and fuel was tanked. As we left our wooden quay at 9am this Sunday morning, there was already brilliant sunshine, and it was nice and warm. There were only a few stratus clouds here and there,

Tara leaving Caleta Tic Toc 02/15/2011

Tara leaving Caleta Tic Toc Arriving in Caleta Tic Toc after sailing through the channels, our first impression proves accurate. This place is a haven of peace, a place to renew our energy – especially welcome after more than 24 hours running on motors. We found two sailboats already harbored in this very protected cove, with a German, two Swiss and a Belgian aboard. Hidden in the

Etienne Bourgois and Eric Karsenti aboard Tara 02/05/2011

Etienne Bourgois and Eric Karsenti aboard Tara It’s the first time that Etienne Bourgois and Eric Karsenti, the two co-directors of the Tara Oceans expedition, have found themselves together onboard Tara at the same time. This trip is an opportunity for them to discuss a number of issues and make plans with the current team. At the end of March Tara Oceans will celebrate its one and a half year

Tara leaves Deception Island 01/26/2011

Tara leaves Deception IslandOn Tuesday morning we left the dormant volcano’s crater where we’ve been anchored for the last 3 days. The wind had died down, and the water was very clear and barely rippled. A couple of chinstrap penguins leapt out of the water around us. The ceiling of the sky was also much higher, which allowed us to see the circle of mountains buttressing the volcano.Two

Fossil Island 01/19/2011

Fossil IslandMarambio lies at latitude 64º06’South and longitude 56º41’West. We’ll have spent 20 hours anchored here. Yesterday evening, after we arrived, the surrounding mountains were dusted white with snow.The trip on land today kept all its promises: the ground of Marambio is scattered with fossils and nesting arctic terns.At the northern point of the island, a camp with some

Departure from Dundee Island 01/18/2011

Departure from Dundee IslandYesterday morning Tara left Dundee Island in the Antarctic Sound. The fjord was not blocked with ice, so we were able to get out of it quite easily. After about 15 miles we were practically in open waters, in amongst a few icebergs. While in this new clearing of ice we came across three orcas, then a sea lion, not to mention a few penguins. We’d not seen that

Tara rediscovers the ice 01/09/2011

Tara rediscovers the ice The first snowflakes were already falling as sampling station number 85 began on Thursday. The thermometer was reading 1°C. On deck everyone was wrapped up. Not a very clear horizon with this ever present thick, gray, humid mist.With the first rosette we carry out our normal procedure and lower it into the water, doing whatever we can to adapt ourselves

Tara and the second element 12/31/2010

Tara and the second element,according to Christian de Marliave (alias “Cricket”), polar specialist.Since our departure from Cape Town for this 2nd expedition year, Tara has Antarctica in sight before reaching the Pacific. For the schooner and part of her crew who participated in the Arctic Drift, this voyage will have an aura of reunion with the polar environment, and with ice,

I wish you a Merry Christmas ! 12/26/2010

I wish you a Merry Christmas !This is my second Christmas aboard Tara, and just as pleasurable as before!Despite our accumulated tiredness, when we’re all sitting around the table beneath Christmas decorations in the main cabin, there’s excitement in the air: still another exceptional moment to savor. Last evening the crews of neighboring boats came for dinner-- 22 people

Visits in Tierra del Fuego 12/24/2010

Visits in Tierra del FuegoSince arriving in Ushuaia, besides our neighbors at the Marina Afasyn (mainly charter sailboats taking tourists to Antarctica), we've met local authorities, including a delegation from the government of Tierra del Fuego Province. In the impressive main building of the city, the crew was welcomed along with Eric Karsenti (director of Tara Oceans

Tara in Ushuaia 12/20/2010

Tara in UshuaiaSome logs are especially enjoyable to write. Not that the others are uninteresting or less important. But this evening Tara is in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, 1,000 kilometers from Antarctica. Besides just being here, this arrival has a special feeling because we had such a rough crossing. Not easy to forget the 80-knot wind at our Cabo Virgenes mooring. After

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Tara Still At Anchor 12/14/2010

Tara Still At AnchorThis Monday has been especially trying for Tara and its occupants.While we were at anchor in the shelter at the entrance of the Strait of Magellan for nearly 48 hours, around 3am, the strop gave way (a safety cord to hold the chain). Coming out with blows from its well, the chain played out completely, 250 meters. That’s 50 meters more than we gave out at the time when we

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Portraits: a sailor and a scientist 12/10/2010

Portraits: a sailor and a scientistOn the occasion of this voyage between the roaring forties and the screaming fifties, let me introduce 2 personalities on board : Michael Lunn, our first mate, and Nigel Grimsly, researcher in molecular biology.Nigel is British: he was born in Leicester in 1954. Mike is also British: he was born in Southport near Liverpool, in 1970.Nigel did not leave Leicester

Tara in the Malouines Current 12/06/2010

Tara in the Falkland CurrentThe first clue which made us realise we are definitely in the Malvinas (or Falkland) Current was the outside temperature. When the thermometer fell dramatically to 10°C, after the last storm, we knew we’d just opened the portal to this current. Our information was corroborated by another fact: the sea temperature is 8°C. Finally the third factor, the colour of the

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First Short Station After Buenos Aires 11/29/2010

First Short Station After Buenos AiresA few miles after leaving Rio de la Plata, we got back to business without delay: a short station at 30 meters depth. « This is not a first for me,» said Captain Hervé Bourmaud, « We were in even shallower waters around the coral reefs in the Indian Ocean ». Why take samples in so little water ? For our head scientist, Eric Karsenti,

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Preparing for the Roaring Forties 11/24/2010

Preparing for the Roaring FortiesDuring our crossing of the South Atlantic, between Cape Town and Buenos Aires, we experienced some pretty windy spells. In particular, just before we got to Argentina the wind reached 54 knots. However, statistically, the really heavy weather is still to come.Apart from all the new people we’ve encountered in our visits with children and meetings with key

Logbook of First Mate, Alain Giese, who boarded at Buenos Aires 11/23/2010

Logbook of First Mate, Alain Giese, who boarded at Buenos AiresSunday, November 21, 2011... ‘Domingo’ for the Argentineans.Night watch on Tara: it’s nearing midnight, Captain Hervé Bourmaud is ashore and on board everyone is sleeping ...the whale has dozed off... allowing me a quiet moment to chat with you...Just a few days aboard and I feel like I’ve been sucked into a never ending

Interview with Olivier Marien after the arrival at Buenos Aires and almost three months at sea 11/16/2010

Interview with Olivier Marien after the arrival at Buenos Aires and almost three months at sea- What is your assessment of this adventure between Cape Town and Buenos Aires ?In terms of the sailing, these 7,000 miles were thrilling: the large swells of South Africa, the trade winds, discovering Saint Helena and Ascension, the arrival at Rio, and just recently, the returning gusts of

Tara is in Buenos Aires 11/15/2010

Tara is in Buenos AiresThe docking manoeuvre was finished at about 14:20 on Sunday. Tara is now moored in the second basin of Puerto Madero at Buenos Aires. The upstream voyage on the Plata River took us more than 24 hours after entering the estuary. This morning Gustavo, a harbour master, came on board to guide our approach to the largest Argentinian port.Below the hull, 5 to 6

Tara headed for Buenos Aires 11/12/2010

Tara headed for Buenos AiresThis leg of the voyage is officially finished. Weather conditions over the past 24 hours have dashed any hope of continuing scientific work. Time is too short to accomplish our planned program: originally, five sampling stations were scheduled between Rio and Buenos Aires. Finally we will have done only three – two short and one long. Our exploration of the

Tara approaches the Great Southern Ocean 11/10/2010

Tara approaches the Great Southern Ocean 52 knots in a gale ! Fortunately, the day before yesterday when we set the sails after a short sampling station, Captain Olivier Marien anticipated a strong increase in wind by taking in two reefs. The weather forecasts were accurate. Since last night we’ve been sailing in 30 to 50-knot winds. And Tara “rides it out”

Short station ends and we travel under sail 11/09/2010

Short station ends and we travel under sailWe had a short sampling station on Monday. This time, all the planned experiments, apart from one, were carried out to the satisfaction of the head of the project, Nicole Poulton. This station began very early on Monday morning at about 6am, a few minutes after an exceptionally colourful dawn. The sea was calm, but various weather forecasts were

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Tara leaves Rio and Brazil 11/01/2010

Tara leaves Rio and BrazilAround midday on Sunday, the day of the second round of presidential elections in Brazil, Tara left the Marina da Gloria pontoon: our ‘pied à terre’ since we arrived on October 22. And like every other time we either enter or leave a port, the foghorn is sounded.As we board our dinghy for the departure manoeuvres with Mike Lunn, the new sailor who has come from New

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Heads of Tara Oceans Expedition in Rio de Janeiro 10/25/2010

Heads of Tara Oceans Expedition in Rio de JaneiroThey hadn’t been together aboard Tara since Beirut, Lebanon.That was almost a year ago, last December, as the expedition was preparing to leave the Mediterranean for the Red Sea. More than ever Etienne Bourgois and Eric Karsenti, co-directors of Tara Oceans Expedition, are convinced of the importance of this scientific/humanistic

Tara is docked at Rio 10/22/2010

Tara is docked at RioAfter a month and 20 days at sea for those who embarked at Cape Town (South Africa), and 20 days at sea for the relief team of scientists who climbed aboard at Ascension, this ocean crossing experienced its epilogue this morning.A little of Brazil was already revealed to us yesterday afternoon with Cabo Frio suddenly emerging on the horizon. Then last night under an almost

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If you’re going to Rio! 10/20/2010

If you’re going to Rio!Ever since the last long sampling station we’ve been belting along under sail, initially heading south, then as of yesterday we bore west, setting our sights on Rio. At first the wind was about 20 knots, but last night (Monday night /Tuesday morning) as the weather forecasts had predicted, it picked up. Within just a few seconds, early this morning, the wind

At the gates of Rio 10/18/2010

At the gates of RioThe final sampling station of this Ascension-Rio leg of the journey drew to a close this afternoon. Together Linda, Sarah and Jean-Louis celebrated the end of this 30-hour marathon with a round of applause.During that 30-hour period the equipment was installed in the water about 25 times, often with numerous experiments being carried out simultaneously; a real hive of

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Fishing in calm waters 10/06/2010

Fishing in calm watersEver since we left Ascension the sea has been calm. There are no residual swells or early warning signs to indicate a gale is on its way. The weather forecasts our captain, Olivier Marien, has received confirm that this trend could last for several days.It is a godsend for our new group of scientists as they can ‘ease themselves in’ gently. Throughout this long sampling

Adios Ascension ! Headed for Rio de Janeiro. 10/04/2010

Adios Ascension ! Headed for Rio de Janeiro. A new adventure is starting. Departure this morning at 8 o’clock from our mooring at St. Clarens with the usual maneuvers for our crew. First, we bring aboard the 2 tenders used for reaching land, then we do a solid ‘lashing’, securing them in place for the upcoming period of navigation.After starting up the engines, we haul in the

Anchored at Ascension 10/01/2010

Anchored at AscensionOur Cape Town-Ascension leg of the journey has come to an end. We have travelled 3,000 nautical miles since Cape Town, carried out one short and four long sampling stations and performed precisely 100 experiments in total across the waters of the South Atlantic. Green and full of life when we left South Africa, those waters became deep blue and desert-like later.To attest to

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Stop off in a land of exile 09/27/2010

Stop off in a land of exileAt first it was just a dark shape in the distance, amid rough seas made choppy by winds, on average of 30 knots. We pass from one side of the boat’s bow to the other but it is still difficult to discern.Then after many miles the shadow takes shape: an island. Saint Helena. No airport, only boats and the sea can carry you to this place. A scene from history – the

Infinitely small and fascinating 09/23/2010

Infinitely small and fascinatingPatrick Chang is looking through the microscope, his head thrown back to observe a screen placed high up, totally enthralled with these true wonders of nature. For many hours throughout this 70th sampling station, each time the plankton nets are hauled in, he hurries into the lab with the latest sample to discover more about the

The young scientist & the adventurer 09/22/2010

The young scientist & the adventurerBefore the next change of our scientific team on Ascension Island at the beginning of October, we will present each week contrasting portraits of an onboard scientist, and a member of the sailing crew. Today Lucie Subirana, biologist, and François Aurat, jack-of-all-trades sailor.24 years old, brunette with brown eyes, long, straight hair and a

Thirteen West 09/20/2010

Thirteen West It wasn’t a ‘bug’: At about 4 o’clock in the morning during Mathilde Ménard and Marc Picheral’s watch, the longitudes suddenly registered at zero for a few hundredths of a second. And then the degrees in minutes and seconds began to appear again, but to the west. We had just passed the Greenwich Meridian. Passage to the west, after more than a year spent primarily to the

Multi-net Power 09/20/2010

Multi-net Power Friday evening a special event happened aboard Tara. Like taking out a racing car from an old garage, or letting loose a bull in the arena, we uncovered our prize. Since our departure from Cape Town, the beast kept a low profile, nearly hidden by the wet lab installed at the rear port side. Now its time had come, it was the star under the

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Last stretch before the trade winds 09/16/2010

Last stretch before the trade winds After hunting the gyre for two exhausting but productive days, Tara is now navigating by sailpower alone. As predicted by the weather reports, a strong south-eastern wind developed right after our sampling station, reaching 35 knots with gusts at 40 knots, for about 20 hours. These conditions obliged Captain Olivier Marien and

Hunting the Eddy 09/15/2010

Hunting the EddyAfter exploring the Benguela Current last week, we’ve been searching since yesterday morning for eddies. Particularly the eddies in the Aiguilles Current that cross the southern Atlantic Ocean.Tara Oceans expedition had begun to observe eddies in the Mozambique Channel where they form. When they reach the level of the southernmost point of Africa, certain eddies continue to move

A week at Sea 09/14/2010

A week at Sea In Cape Town, local people had warned me: here, in a single day, you can experience all four seasons. Like a birthday present for our expedition’s first year, an excellent weather forecast encouraged us to sail off on September 5. Exactly one year ago to the day, Tara had departed from Lorient,

Sea companions 09/13/2010

Sea companions Their ballet begins in the first light of dawn. Long before the white-caped Lord of the manor, the albatross, shows up, black petrels start gliding in Tara’s wake. About fifty meters above the boat, they tirelessly form chains of circles in the sky. A vagary, or are they actively hunting for fish? Morning exercises, or quasi-genetic rituels? Nothing

The onboard echoes 09/10/2010

The onboard echoes Under sail Having completed a long sampling station, Tara and her crew are heading west with the south south-easterly winds prevailing at 20 knots. Yesterday at the beginning of the evening, after the last immersion of the ‘rosette’ (the water-sampling bottles) Captain Olivier Marien and the crew happily hoisted Tara’s two mainsails with a reef for the

First long station of this second year 09/08/2010

First long station of this second year At 7 this morning, the first people showed up in Tara’s cabin for breakfast. The sea was calm, and the sun shining. Having spent 24 agitated hours with winds at more than 30 knots, it was lovely waking up after a calm night drifting in the Benguela current.* This early wakeup was organized to

Setting off from Cape Town under the sun 09/06/2010

Setting off from Cape Town under the sun At 9.15 this morning Julian Daniel, the Chief Engineer, started the two 350-horsepower engines. At the last briefing yesterday, Captain Olivier Marien set the time of departure for 10.00am. A new photograph was quickly taken on deck of the whole of the crew involved in this Cape Town-Ascension stage of the journey, then the departure

Heading for heavy weather 09/06/2010

Heading for heavy weather For Hervé Bourmaud and Olivier Marien, the two Tara captains, this second year will be all about heavy weather. According to them, the advantage of having a year’s experience behind us is that Tara Oceans is now a smoothly functioning expedition. "The plankton sampling protocols are well established, and the teams of scientists are

A second year of expedition gets underway 09/02/2010

A second year of expedition gets underwayOn 5 September 2010, exactly one year after setting sail from the port of Lorient in Brittany, France the Tara Oceans Expedition will leave Cape Town, South Africa heading east into the second of its planned three year journey.During this second year, Tara will cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from east to west, sailing from Cape Town to arrive in

Discovering Cape Town (South Africa) 08/27/2010

Discovering Cape Town (South Africa) Next Tuesday Tara will return to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront at Cape Town, our port of departure. Hence, the opportunity to say a little more about the legislative capital of South Africa. Built on the shores of Table Bay, located at the foot of the eponymously named mountain, Cape Town was founded in 1652 by the Dutch East

Crossing paths... 08/23/2010

Crossing paths...When sailing the seas you can sometimes come across a team of friends on the other side of the world, and over the course of an evening you can recall your sailing experiences and swap tips on particular ports of call. So it was that we stumbled across the Solea crew, who have come from France and are en route to Madagascar. This small freighter, loaded with humanitarian cargo,

Busy day: mission accomplished... 08/18/2010

Busy day: mission accomplished...Returning a boat to water is clearly a key moment in the process of its repair and one that is not without some emotion. The manoeuvre is carried out slowly; the wooden platform supporting Tara is gently lowered until it reaches the point at which it regains its buoyancy and in doing so is able to leave the drydock. Once the chief mechanic is confident there are

Tara’s South African rhythm 08/12/2010

Tara’s South African rhythm8 o’clock. Just a moment to take in the sunrise over the mountains dominating Simon Town’s bay, and it’s time for the crew to join Tara at the naval base dry dock. There, we’ll finish work begun the day before, or commence a new job, checking off one-by-one the list of jobs posted in the galley. Dockyard work is in full swing, the pace is steady, and the

Technical stopover or the art of boat preparation 08/06/2010

Technical stopover or the art of boat preparation A dockyard site, or where the crew is at, demands a myriad of skills. In fact, the crew is organizing its work on many fronts. The three main areas of preparation after having spent one expedition year and before several months of sailing are: the machinery (servicing the main motors, generators, propellers…), the deck (rigging,

Cape of Storms, Cape of Hope... 08/03/2010

Cape of Storms, Cape of Hope...It is often cited as Africa’s most southerly cape, but the Cape of Good Hope is not positioned at the southernmost tip of the African continent. To reach that southern tip you need to travel 150km east to Agulhas: the actual demarcation of the maritime border which separates the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean. However, for the Portuguese explorers, led by

From one submarine base to another... 07/28/2010

From one submarine base to another... It is a funny coincidence that Tara has chosen a submarine base to be the site at which she will undergo servicing before starting on the second year of the expedition; a year which will lead the schooner to the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. It’s a coincidence because it was from the dock of a submarine base at Lorient, just under a year ago, that the

Visits from South African students 07/26/2010

Visits from South African studentsAt each stopover, after departing from the Lorient, Tara’s crew has conscientiously maintained their commitment to organize visits onboard by local schools; thus responding to the expedition’s educational objective, one of the fundamental reasons for this project. At Cape Town, the crew welcomed 120 adolescents from 2 city “townships” (disadvantaged

After 300 days of sailing 07/22/2010

After 300 days of sailing Thousands of samples collected, 70 embarked scientists, several thousands of nautical miles traversed, 3 seas and 1 ocean crossed, mission accomplished for the first year. After more than 300 days of navigating, Tara Oceans has won its first wager. At the end of its first expedition year, Tara has arrived at Cape Town. The progress-report for the first year is

The southern Indian Ocean currents influence the south Atlantic Ocean 07/19/2010

The southern Indian Ocean currents influence the south Atlantic OceanThe Indian southern equatorial warmer current affects the biodiversity and the thermo-haline circulation of the Atlantic Ocean. At Tara’s present location, the Agulhas current flows at high speed along Africa’s east coast (up to 6 knots). Arriving at the Cape of Good Hope (formerly called the Cape of Storms), this current

The southern Indian Ocean currents influence the south Atlantic Ocean 07/15/2010

The southern Indian Ocean currents influence the south Atlantic OceanThe Indian southern equatorial warmer current affects the biodiversity and the thermo-haline circulation of the Atlantic Ocean. At Tara’s present location, the Agulhas current flows at high speed along Africa’s east coast (up to 6 knots). Arriving at the Cape of Good Hope (formerly called the Cape of Storms), this current

Tara: energy catalyzer 07/09/2010

Tara: energy catalyzerTara is speeding along at 7 knots under mainsail and the engines. In the silence of the night, the machine noise accompanies the crossing.Tara functions 24 hours a day. When it is not at a scientific station, the boat advances as quickly as possible, for the tight schedule does not allow loitering. Despite the Mozambique Channel presenting us with nothing but headwinds right

A welcoming haven 07/05/2010

A welcoming haven Tara continues its descent of the Scattered Islands. After Juan de Nova it will be Bassas da India’s and then Europa’s turn to receive a visit from the scientific expedition. Located in the southern Mozambique Channel, the only thing the last two Scattered Islands have in common is their proximity to one another, as their geographies are completely different.

Islet ahoy 07/01/2010

Islet ahoy It would have taken 2 days of navigating to discover Juan de Nova, a tiny island of less than 5 km2, abandoned in the Mozambique Channel. Upon discovering Juan de Nova, you catch a glimpse of its forest. In fact, the ten or so meter high trees are visible from afar and jut out over the sea. Coming closer, we discover a white beach of fine sand encircling this

Heading for Cape Town 06/29/2010

Our month in Mayotte has been spent chained to the anchor. Bound by the scientific dives, we’ve not done much sailing. In anticipation of our departure from Mayotte to Cape Town (South Africa) we have to prepare the boat for a long and completely autonomous journey. This means taking stock of the engine, the equipment, the provisions, the crew, in short a thorough inspection of the boat.

Coral mission in Mayotte 06/23/2010

Tara Discovering Mayotte After making two complete tours around the island, Tara uncovered Mayotte’s cut-out coastline. With alternating sand beaches, mangroves and numerous islets, the diversity of the scenery enchanted the crew. By multiplying the moorings in the lagoon, in accord with the needs of the scientific teams, the boat fulfilled its goal: to accomplish a maximum of diving sites

Energy packed guests 06/20/2010

In Mayotte, Tara was given the pleasure of welcoming the lucky winners of the EDF internal contest onboard. Here’s the info on this special day: The EDF Diversiterre foundation is a branch of the French energy group EDF, and one of the most important sponsors of the Tara Oceans expedition. The foundation was created essentially to support a number of projects and solidarity based actions.

Coral bleaching: a few explanations. 06/17/2010

Coral bleaching: a few explanations. Stationed in Mayotte for the past three weeks, Tara has been completing a survey around the island for her second coral mission. Among other objects of study, coral bleaching is especially important: Mayotte hosts about 400 linear kilometres of coral in its Exclusive Economic Zone (which extends over 200 nautical miles round the island) and currently,

Serious coral bleaching has occurred in Mayotte 06/14/2010

Serious coral bleaching has occurred in MayotteMzouazia Bay, 6.00am: the anchor is raised. Tara is going back to another shelter on the eastern, windward side of the island. It is for safety’s sake but also to avoid too many trips with the dinghy. We move from place to place wherever the scientists’ and divers’ work takes us. At the same time it is an opportunity to discover the lush,

Serious coral bleaching has occurred in Mayotte 06/09/2010

Serious coral bleaching has occurred in MayotteMzouazia Bay, 6.00am: the anchor is raised. Tara is going back to another shelter on the eastern, windward side of the island. It is for safety’s sake but also to avoid too many trips with the dinghy. We move from place to place wherever the scientists’ and divers’ work takes us. At the same time it is an opportunity to discover the lush,

Diary of an on-board Customs Diver 06/04/2010

Diary of an on-board Customs Diver The coral mission begins. The divers, the bottles and the inflatable dinghy are prepared with the upmost attention to safety. It’s quite a set up that must be put in place each day. Jean-Jacques, who along with Mathieu, is in charge of the safety and logistics of the dives, provides us with the following extracts from his diary:This morning we get up at

New team plus new coral mission for Tara at Mayotte 06/03/2010

New team plus new coral mission for Tara at MayotteWe arrive at Mayotte and it’s a sight for sore eyes. Time once again for the scientists on the boat to be replaced by a new team. After a month onboard, Celine, Sarah, Columban, Ian, Sacha and Camilla disembark. It was a month spent collecting plankton and studying the oceans’ micro-organisms. At the same time it was a month spent living

We have a “little” scare on Tara 05/27/2010

We have a “little” scare on TaraTuesday 25th May, 1.40pm. Drifting at latitude 13°06' South, longitude 46°58' East, Tara’s scientists are busy at work. Hervé, the captain, climbs on deck: « Everyone stop what you’re doing, we’re getting out of here! ».Always on the lookout, he has just received a call on the iridium telephone from the Coastal Patrol service of the French

Heading for Tromelin 05/25/2010

Heading for Tromelin The name is a mystery for most people: Tromelin. It’s one of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean -- 5 little-known French territories where the vegetation is very sparse, scattered around Madagascar. Since 2005 the prefect of the TAAF (French Austral and Antarctic Territories) based on Reunion, has been the administrator of the Scattered

From Reunion Island to Madagascar 05/21/2010

From Reunion Island to Madagascar Because Reunion is an island, it’s easy to imagine it populated by fishermen and seafaring people. This, however, is only partly true: the port where we have stopped hosts the larger part of the fleet, but historically, Reunion is home to a landbound population of planters for whom the Indian Ocean was mainly considered an obstacle to

Facing Tromelin 05/20/2010

Facing Tromelin From the onboard radio room a female voice identifies herself as the Tromelin meteorological station. We in turn reply with our own identification. On the radar screen the echo of this tiny island, flashing green, is drowned out by the interfering echoes of heavy raindrops. The silhouette of this island, emerging from the abyss, appears on the grey horizon. Long, ocean swells

Heading for Tromelin 05/17/2010

Heading for Tromelin The name is a mystery for most people: Tromelin. It’s one of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean -- 5 little-known French territories where the vegetation is very sparse, scattered around Madagascar. Since 2005 the prefect of the TAAF (French Austral and Antarctic Territories) based on Reunion, has been the administrator of the Scattered

The eddy: second cousin of the gyre 05/10/2010

The eddy: second cousin of the gyreThis evening the curves of Reunion appeared! Massive mountain silhouettes in the dark night, and lights from houses at the water’s edge. Patience though! We still have to wait a little before we can set foot on the island and discover it in the full light of day.We are currently heading, with the wind at our backs and the sails stretched taut, towards our

Tara seen from above 05/10/2010

Tara seen from aboveIf taking a boat into Mauritius is already a privilege, flying a helicopter into the island is a downright honour.No later than 7.30 am, Tara drops us off on a flat island located a few tens of sea miles away from Mauritius along with Jerome, the cameraman for Thalassa.A helicopter from the gendarmerie lands right in the middle of the tall grass, and a man dressed in khaki

Fishing in St Brandon: a national sport 05/04/2010

Fishing in St Brandon: a national sport “In St Brandon, there is no need for bait: the fish will jump right in your boat. » Those aren’t the exact words Armand (administrator of the archipelago) used upon our arrival, but that’s the general idea. 10 days later, our daily diet is composed mainly of fish and rice. Skill, however, has nothing to do with this.The day after our arrival on

Kite surfing is a dangerous sport for the teeth 05/03/2010

Kite surfing is a dangerous sport for the teeth To compromise a family vacation at Saint Brandon is really simple. The archipelagos are so isolated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, that a tiny incident can become serious in a couple of seconds. Basile, 11 years old, wanted to tap the hand of her brother who was kite surfing. A slap of wind and there’s Basile with dental braces torn

Plankton Attached to Coral 04/30/2010

Plankton Attached to Coral Already 8 months since Tara left Lorient. Faithful readers, now that you’re completely ‘fluent’ in plankton, we can move on to the fine points of a local, tropical dialect: coral. You’re already familiar with Dinoflagellates... those single-celled organisms capable of photosynthesis, but also feeding on particles, and sometimes

Crown of Birds Archipelago 04/23/2010

Crown of Birds Archipelago A banana-shaped archipelago with a name fit for a Californian TV character: hard to imagine what St Brandon would look like...indeed, satellite images revealed no more than a constellation of desert islands lined with white sand. After six days at sea, Tara dropped anchor by the island in the far south of St Brandon. Our first steps on firm ground were

Phronima in a Barrel 04/21/2010

Phronima in a Barrel Rainy day aboard the Tara. Long waves unfurl against the boat’s hull. Wind in the sails at 17 knots, we’re headed towards the archipelago of Saint Brandon.Nets have been replaced by computers and books. Everyone has found a small spot inside Tara to keep dry, and work. Ideal weather to talk about a representative of

In the Wake of Two Centuries of Scientific Discovery 04/19/2010

In the Wake of Two Centuries of Scientific Discovery A sampling station in the crystalline waters of Gan island, one of the last island chains south of the Maldives. Our scientists cheer up after 2 days of constant rain. Tara’s orange prow follows in the wake of another expedition that crossed the Indian Ocean over a century ago – the HMS Sealark, led by the zoologist John

The Observer Who Loved Cousteau 04/15/2010

The Observer Who Loved Cousteau “My house is near the water. I’ve always heard the sound of waves crashing on the beach. But what really made me want to work around the sea was a documentary by Jacques-Yves Cousteau that I saw when I was 8 years old.” Incredible. More than 9000 kilometres from France, and the famous man with red cap strikes again. Rilwan Yoosuf is

The Observer Who Loved Cousteau 04/13/2010

The Observer Who Loved Cousteau “My house is near the water. I’ve always heard the sound of waves crashing on the beach. But what really made me want to work around the sea was a documentary by Jacques-Yves Cousteau that I saw when I was 8 years old.” Incredible. More than 9000 kilometres from France, and the famous man with red cap strikes again. Rilwan Yoosuf is

Dry Dock in Paradise 04/09/2010

Dry Dock in Paradise Step outside the airport building and a blast of heat invades your lungs. In Malé, the capital of the Maldives, the air is the same temperature as the water: 30°. To leave the airport, you take a boat-taxi: These long, covered boats look like ferries and move nimbly over the crystalline water. Aaaah, the vision of Tara floating peacefully in the middle of the

The Maldives, a paradise on earth slipping under the sea 04/08/2010

The Maldives, a paradise on earth slipping under the sea The archipelago is the delight of advertisements and holiday agents with its postcard dreams, but the picture is not rosy: the sea threatens to swallow up this rare and still preserved natural habitat. Hence, the interest of government officials, who’ve come to salute the work of the “Taranauts” for the preservation of the marine

Tara’s on board artist: Benjamin Flao 04/02/2010

Tara’s on board artist: Benjamin Flao He continues a tradition, which began, for Tara, in the Mediterranean Sea; and beyond, will he also continue the heritage of the great artist naturalists of the 19th century? Not so sure, even if Benjamin Flao has embarked “to testify”. Straddling the inflatable dinghy at a couple of cable lengths from the Tara, Benjamin dips his brush into

Stopover in Mumbai, economic and cultural capital of India 03/29/2010

Stopover in Mumbai, economic and cultural capital of IndiaThe large port of the East Coast of the Indian subcontinent displays the rhythm of a rapid economic growth, yet traces of its ethno cultural diversity and colonial past remain quite present.Its original name most likely came from the first Portuguese colonists, who named it Bombay ("bom bahia") meaning "good bay".Arriving in a city via the

The infinitely small world of... giant viruses 03/22/2010

The infinitely small world of... giant virusesWhen the rosette and its samples emerge from a several hundred meter dive, Defne Arslan, for her research on marine viruses, is the first in line. Defne is exploring the realm of the largely unknown. She may have swapped her childhood mask and tuba for a microscope, but her interests have remained the same: life in the deep blue sea. Ironically,

The great 03/19/2010

The great "bloom" day An explosion of life right in the middle of the ocean, the planktonic efflorescence generally known as "bloom" reached its climax in the Omani sea, just as Tara was cruising in its waters. In other words, this brought great satisfaction to the researchers on board.They'd hoped for it, waited, searched, hounded it for days on end until they finally stumbled "right into

The great 03/16/2010

The great "bloom" day An explosion of life right in the middle of the ocean, the planktonic efflorescence generally known as "bloom" reached its climax in the Omani sea, just as Tara was cruising in its waters. In other words, this brought great satisfaction to the researchers on board.They'd hoped for it, waited, searched, hounded it for days on end until they finally stumbled "right into

The great "bloom" day 03/15/2010

The great "bloom" day An explosion of life right in the middle of the ocean, the planktonic efflorescence generally known as "bloom" reached its climax in the Omani sea, just as Tara was cruising in its waters. In other words, this brought great satisfaction to the researchers on board.They'd hoped for it, waited, searched, hounded it for days on end until they finally stumbled "right into

Organization by Celine 03/11/2010

Organization by Celine Since the stopover at Abu Dhabi, a new appointment was established on Tara: that of a biology engineer, taken by Céline Dimier, who is responsible for a stringent book-keeping of all material dedicated for research. Filters, tubes, pipettes, then flasks and even more bottles, and then also gloves, without forgetting chemicals of all kinds: reagents, fixatives,

Stopover in Abu Dhabi, heading towards Muscat 03/09/2010

Stopover in Abu Dhabi, heading towards Muscat Anchored at dock n°35, Tara seems quite small, stranded as she is in the commercial port of Abu Dhabi, a peculiar city on the edge of the desert. We are surrounded by buildings competing in height, and appear to be in perpetual construction. In front of us, a brand new platform supply vessel destined to oil exploration is getting

When the "rosette" yields to the Compass Rose... 03/04/2010

When the "rosette" yields to the Compass Rose... The little technological marvel that is the "rosette", nickname for the CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth measuring device and the rosette of sampling bottles) is finally in use once again! But it certainly wasn't an easy feat. "We're back in business!": A man of action, captain Hervé Bourmand doesn't try to hide his satisfaction. Ever

Tara generation 03/03/2010

Stopover in Abu Dhabi, heading towards Muscat Anchored at dock n°35, Tara seems quite small, stranded as she is in the commercial port of Abu Dhabi, a peculiar city on the edge of the desert. We are surrounded by buildings competing in height, and appear to be in perpetual construction. In front of us, a brand new platform supply vessel destined to oil exploration is getting

Tara generation 03/01/2010

Tara generationTara has a mission: Sensitizing youngsters to the environmental concerns of our century, and explaining to them what exactly it is that Tara's scientific team is doing and striving to achieve in the marine environment. Throughout the expedition, all in all, 150 classes will have paid a visit to Tara."Excuse me madam, how many days of food can you stock in the boat?" "Do you drink

Night watch 02/26/2010

Night watchIt's ten to midnight. After a gentle awakening, it's time to get up and take over for those who've kept watch so far and are probably impatient to get some rest. A few minutes later, eyes still sticky with sleep, I head towards the gangway to meet my watch buddy. A cold drink, a snack maybe, we each have our "thing" to pull ourselves together in the middle of the night and be

Changing crews 02/22/2010

Changing crewsCrew changes on a boat are hardly joyful events. After months spent living together, one has become close to those who disembark, and new rhythms, and habits must be taken with the newcomers. One always has to wonder whether the mood will be as nice, good times be had, new bonds be made... And of course, with each crew change come different experiences but disappointment,

Diving onboard Tara 02/18/2010

Heading towards Abu DhabiWe can see the sunrise from Tara's foaming bow wave. We are leaving Djibouti in an agitated sea : 30 knot headwinds are forcing us to tack as we pass the convoys of escorted merchant vessels, on their way to the Suez Canal and the doors of Europe. Our schooner, slowed down by the growth of algae on its hull during its stay in the warm waters of Djibouti and the Red Sea,

Abdou, son of Obock 02/09/2010

Diving onboard TaraFor the past fifteen days, diving has been the main item on the menu for Tara's crew. Onboard, six scientists and one cameraman are busy crisscrossing the depths of the Gulf of Tadjoura and the bay of Ghoubet, to examine the fish and coral of this region blessed with such a rich biodiversity. After 5 months spent fishing for plankton, Tara has just turned herself into

Abdou, son of Obock 02/04/2010

Abdou, son of Obock Since leaving the port of Djibouti, Tara has anchored many times, searching for the most beautiful coral sites in the bay of Tadjoura. Fifteen dives have already been made and over 200 samples have been collected. For the necessary logistics of our earthbound and underwater cameramen, a small dhow has followed Tara for the last couple of days. Its pilot is Abdou, 64

Night watch 02/02/2010

Night watchGuillaume Bracq, who is the chief mechanic onboard Tara, describes a night watch anchored off Djibouti. “Being onboard Tara is part of a dream for all of us. I’d like to share with you a magical moment. We are lying at anchor. The full moon is bathing the boat in a soft white light. Tonight there is no need for the headlamp in making the rounds to assure that all is ok. I

Port call in Djibouti 01/28/2010

Port call in Djibouti Before arriving in Djibouti, we bid farewell to the Red Sea by passing through the famous Bab-El Mandeb channel which led us straight to the doors of the gulf of Aden, on our way towards our destination. Sailing conditions in the early morning of January 24th were ideal: a North-Eastern wind kindly pushed us towards African stopover. Tara, sails spread out in the

Bab-El-Mandeb, the Gate of Tears 01/23/2010

Bab-El-Mandeb, the Gate of Tears Here we are, clear at the other end of the Red Sea, between two continents. We are going through the Gate of Tears: "Bab-El-Mandeb" in Arabic. According to an old legend, it's named after the laments of the drowned souls who died during the earthquake which tore Asia from Africa. According to another legend, the name is simply meant

Why is the Red Sea... blue? 01/21/2010

Why is the Red Sea... blue?After having explained the cause of the Red Sea's redness in a previous log, we are now about to see why exactly it is that the Red Sea - like any other- is blue.Let's begin with a few general points about the transmission of light. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and the stars. Visible light represents but a fragment of the

Why is the Red Sea red? 01/20/2010

Why is the Red Sea red?Generally, people -aside from those of us who are color blind- think of the sea as a large extent of blue liquid. Why then, in this case, is it associated with the color red? It seems as though the designation "Red Sea" comes from antiquity. In the Bible, Hebrews were already referring to it as "the Sea of Edom" or "Sea of the Edomites" (Edom meaning

The adventures of Hubert the protist 01/14/2010

The adventures of Hubert the protistThe charming creature in the picture gazing at us lovingly is known as a protist. It's true name is Lithoptera müelleri, but to make it easier, we'll just call him Hubert.Hubert is a member of the radiolarian family Acantharea. These are cells concealed by a homemade exoskeleton made of strontium sulphate -a kind of material like silica or glass. The

Scientific workshop in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) onboard Tara 01/08/2010

Scientific workshop in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) onboard TaraInterview with Colomban de Vargas, a scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans and researcher with the CNRS specialist in the study of biodiversity and evolution.Here we are, at the end of our Egyptian stopover, letting Tara get her fill of... scientists! Onboard, a three day workshop (from the 5th to the 8th of January) is currently

Sinaï's blue moon... (and a Happy New Year!) 01/05/2010

Sinaï's blue moon... (and a Happy New Year!)Here we are, in Egypt, starting a brand new year under the glow of the thirteenth moon. Tara has docked at Sharm el Sheik for a technical stop : the crew is at work, and about fifteen scientists are expected for a meeting onboard. Micro-organisms haven't exactly been our concern these past two weeks, focusing as we were on the contents of Tara's hold.

From one captain to the next 12/24/2009

From one captain to the nextSince the 17th of December, Olivier is officially Tara’s captain, though Hervé will be onboard until we reach Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt. It’s quite a responsibility to be in control of a ship like Tara!To perform well, a captain must have a full hand: a master at navigation, logistics, administration as well as technical knowledge of the boat. Plus, Tara’s

The Suez Canal 12/23/2009

The Suez Canal The Suez Canal, a waterway which cuts through the desert, is more often than not seen as a sort of "marine highway", what with its colossal dimensions, its massive display of industry and organisation and its picnic areas –such as the lake in which Tara rested last night.Countless ships pass through it every day: boats such as monstrously large cargo-ships (up to

The ferry: in between at Port Saïd 12/22/2009

The ferry: in between at Port SaïdIt’s one of the entries to the canal. And if the Suez canal is a ship highway, we’ve arrived here after passing the boat toll station, made up of multiple buoys framing immense container ships, as tall as buildings, like those where Guillaume, our chief mechanic, normally works. A seaside still awash with nostalgia, Port Saïd has a history, like Port Fouad,

Interview with Eric Karsenti. The last week in the Mediterranean sea. 12/18/2009

Interview with Eric Karsenti. The last week in the Mediterranean sea.The co-director of Tara Oceans was onboard Tara between Beirut (Lebanon) and Port Saïd (Egypt)We are nearing the end of the Mediterranean campaign. How is this last week turning out?First of all, we review what has happened up to now, and then we hope to do some sampling to finish up this stretch of the campaign, but there is a

Mission « Glider » accomplished! 12/16/2009

Mission « Glider » accomplished!Peeking out from under his fur cap, Fabrizio d'Ortenzo’s grin is hard to miss: He is smiling with the smile of a thrilled chief scientist, a smile which nothing can crack, not even the heavy rain welcoming us in Cyprus tonight.«This will make a great article! He exclaims.» After three days of scouring the seas, we are finally on our way

Upon Lebanese waters and ground, were the last adventurers to be found. 12/14/2009

Upon Lebanese waters and ground, were the last adventurers to be found. “My life is sincere; my morals pure and my hands are clean.”Jean GiraudouxHope is Tara’s message: Nothing has been lost, but all is still to be done: an out of breath economy must be completely rethought. Sustainable development can’t be considered as a cost, but as tomorrow’s new economic model. It presents us with

Mission «Glider» accomplished! 12/07/2009

Mission « Glider » accomplished!Peeking out from under his fur cap, Fabrizio d'Ortenzo’s grin is hard to miss: He is smiling with the smile of a thrilled chief scientist, a smile which nothing can crack, not even the heavy rain welcoming us in Cyprus tonight.«This will make a great article! He exclaims.» After three days of scouring the seas, we are finally on our way

Leaving the Cyprus coast 12/04/2009

Leaving the Cyprus coast Just as our scientists were beginning to need some rest and aspirin after an evening of complicated discussions, the crew carefully prepared for departure and a long night. No night watch for non-sailors this time around. Raising Tara’s sails in stormy weather is a job strictly for professionals. A bad manoeuvre on deck could cause someone to get hurt. Wind from

Fishing for robots 12/01/2009

Fishing for robotsToday, in the middle of the Mediterranean, we are fishing for robots. We are searching for a glider, which has activated its distress signal. It is waiting for us at the surface above the gyre, which we are going to be exploring in the next few days.Our expert crew is experiencing an adrenalin rush; it’s true that these small technological jewels are vitally important.

This week : Athens / Limassol 11/30/2009

This week : Athens / LimassolScientific interest :Leaving Athens, we’re headed towards the island of Cyprus. South of the island lies the site of our next station: a gyre. This is a whirlpool, an enormous peak of energy about 50 kilometers in diameter that develops here, above high underwater mountains. Above these high points, water temperatures change, producing currents that

The Oceanographers’ Robots 11/27/2009

The Oceanographers’ RobotsThey are called “planeurs” in French and gliders in English. And in fact, gliders are remote-controlled submarine robots which slip through the water like penguins and dolphins. Well, maybe not as gracefully and certainly, with much less speed. In the open sea off Cyprus, six gliders will be reconnoitering for the expedition Tara Oceans. By Lisa

In the Corinth Canal 11/25/2009

In the Corinth CanalIt's not everyday that the entire crew is on deck. Even Julien, the chief mechanic has abandoned his post: this morning we are entering the Corinth Canal. A trench 6 kilometers long dug out by man... it seems very narrow on our charts!Tara enters carefully. The vessel is 10 meters wide so there's only 5 meters on either side of the Tara. At the helm,

Unloading Tara’s treasures 11/23/2009

Unloading Tara’s treasuresEvery 4 to 6 weeks, the precious samples collected by the scientists onboard Tara are delivered ashore and sent away to be analyzed in labs all over the world.What follows is a recap from the exchange which took place during our stopover in Dubrovnik (Croatia) with Rainer Friedrich, the man in charge of the transfer and delivery of these hundreds of vials and bottles

This week: Dubrovnik–Athens 11/23/2009

This week: Dubrovnik–AthensScientific interest:“This week we have 2 limitations”, explains Fabrice Not, our new chief scientist. “The Adriatic Sea is divided into the territorial waters of Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.We have the right to do samplings only in Croatian & Greek waters.” The second limitation is that we have to pass through the Corinth Canal at a

Interview with Hervé Bourmaud, Tara’s skipper with a summary on the transect Malta-Dubrovnik. 11/19/2009

Interview with Hervé Bourmaud, Tara’s skipper with a summary on the transect Malta-Dubrovnik. And this week’s progress report?We did 3 good sites. The first ended earlier than planned because we had a bit of drift, and there were some problems pumping up from 60 meters where chlorophyll was at its max. The second site at the boot of Italy took longer than planned. We were blessed with the

This week: Valletta (Malta) – Dubrovnik (Croatia) 11/17/2009

This week: Valletta (Malta) – Dubrovnik (Croatia)Scientific interest:Three sampling stations are programmed this week. The first station on Sunday, where depths of 2000 meters are found, was off Italy’s coast. The surface waters were still warm (satellite forecasted 22deg C on the 15th of November!). The second station, situated in a bay on Italy’s southeast coast, on Monday,

Security Drill 11/16/2009

Security DrillMan Overboard ! Calm down now: this is only a safety drill. We left Malta for Dubrovnik at the break of day and have woken up to brilliant sunshine on a sea of glass. Olivier, the second captain, has called us all up on deck to test our reactions in case of ‘Man overboard!’. A large buoy bumper is playing the role of the victim. Olivier tosses it overboard in front

Salpes: an explosion of chained life 11/13/2009

Salpes: an explosion of chained lifeNo need for a microscope to catch a glimpse of the gelatinous salpes. They may be spotted when observing the sea between tides, and when fish nets are drawn in they can be seen bunched up in the cod ends.Salpes resemble small sacks, -or barrels- of gelatine. They belong to the Tunicate family, ancient ancestors of all vertebrates such as fish or whales; and

This week: Tripoli (Libya)/La Valette (Malte) 11/12/2009

This week: Tripoli (Libya)/La Valette (Malte)Trials and Tribulations :Our stop-over in Tripoli was extended for 2 days to allow the announced 30 knot winds to pass by. We also encountered at the same time diverse technical problems, i.e. the kitchen fridge suddenly went on strike, but more seriously, the desalinator pump failed, endangering our fresh water supply. Thus, during our

A camera for the plankton 11/06/2009

A special camera for the tiny planktonIt looks like a black box, 70 cm large, with a funnel on top, connected to a computer screen. The device is called a FlowCAM and it’s one of the scientific instruments on Tara. FlowCAM inventor, Mike Sieracki embarked for 3 weeks from Malta to Dubrovnik to install the machine, organize the protocols and teach scientists how to use it.Mike works for the

This week : La Valletta (Malta)/Tripoli (Libya) 11/04/2009

This week: La Valletta (Malta)/Tripoli (Libya) The scientific focus:What an international team this week! After two months of French as themain spoken language, English has imposed itself onboard. Our cross over to Libya is taking place in two stages. On Monday we circled Malta for a long day of sampling along the west coast of the island, in 800 meters of water. In that spot, the continental

Tara and the United Nations Environment Program 11/02/2009

Tara and the United Nations Environment ProgramMalta’s stopover is an opportunity to work with one of Tara’s environmental partners. The united nations environment program (PNUE) is an organization integrated into Onu unlike UNESCO and UNICEF who remain detached from the United Nations. PNUE was created during the 70es and the “regional seas” became quickly one of their priorities.A

Naples / La Valletta (Malta) : Good weather again for Tara 10/30/2009

Naples / La Valletta (Malta) : Good weather again for TaraAfter two weeks of rough weather, we finally found the sun and a calm sea. The scientific team was able to carry out three sampling stations off the coast of Naples and around Sicily.Colomban de Vargas, Tara Oceans scientific coordinator and protist specialist, was the scientific officer of this sailing. " The first day, we weren’t

THE SIPHONOPHORES: the longest animals in the world 10/29/2009

Siphonophores : The biggest animals in the world !Cousins of jellyfish, siphonophores are gelatinous animals composed of amultitude of individuals linked together to form a long, chain-likecolony. The whole colony behaves like a single organism, but eachindividual unit has a specialized function. Some individuals are armedwith stinging cells to capture prey. Others are equipped with

Charybdis and Scylla 10/27/2009

Charybdis and Scylla6h. The sun is dawning and it unveils the Stromboli crater. In its loneliness. No hills sloping down gently, no plains or adjacent valleys. Just a volcano in the middle of the sea. At the top, north-west side, some smoke feebly escapes heading toward the sky. Stromboli is sleepy at the moment but, during its fits of fury, the eruptions can follow one after the other every

This week: Naples / La Valletta (Malta) 10/26/2009

This week : Naples / La Valletta (Malta)The scientific focus:This week we really hope to return to the sampling rhythm we had on Tara before the storm (cf. the sailing between Nice and Tunisia). There are 3 stations planned.“ We are going to modify our sampling station protocols. From now on we will execute a short protocol, then long, then short again in order to reduce the work on

Change of batteries 10/23/2009

Change of batteriesWhat a nice arrival at Naples bay! The sun is just an orange halo which outlines the Vesuvio silhouette.We arrive very early for a long working day. All the boat service batteries have to be changed. They are 30 and they weigh more than 80 kg each. It’s not a game to remove them from their cavity in Tara’s entrance hall! Julien, the chief engineer and Fabrizio, the new deck

This Week: Bizerte (Tunisia) /Naples 10/20/2009

This week: Bizerte (Tunisia) / NaplesThe scientific focus:We leave Bizerte with one day delay in order to avoid to be at sea with a strong storm. We are, however, pressed for time: we must reach Naples on Wednesday to download 30 old batteries from Tara and load the new ones on it.We can’t, therefore, realize a complete sampling station during this week. It’s planned to plunge the probe CTD

A rough week 10/15/2009

A rough weekWe are looking out towards the Tunisian coast, apprehensively, since early morning, waiting for the authorization to finally reach the port of Bizerte.No engine but the Gennaker (large foresail) is full with the wind.The boat is rolling from one side to another, but all the crew are now seaworthy, having already spent a rough week. We take advantage of the pause to clean up, vacuum,

Transition day 10/13/2009

Transition dayThe wind is 10 knots today and we are trying to put some order on the boat after the storm turned it upside down. As the sea is still rough, Hervé Bourmaud, the captain and Marc Picheral, the scientific officer of the week, decided to cancel today’s sampling station.It is a day of transition, in which everyone takes his time to find again one’s reference point… While you’re

Tara in the storm 10/12/2009

Tara in the stormWe are off the Corsican coasts, westwards from Ajaccio and we suffer our first strong gust since we left from Lorient, 6 weeks ago. The weather is fine, the sun is shining, but wind is blowing 50 knots (90km/h) with wind gusts of 60 knots (110 km/h). Force 10 by Beaufort scale.We have no time for breakfast, we have to go to set the sails on the deck. Life jackets for everybody.

Interview of Gaby Gorsky, scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans: “Measuring the vertical water column, from 0 to 2000 m, taking samples every 20 cm.” 10/08/2009

Interview of Gaby Gorsky, scientific coordinator of Tara Oceans: “Measuring the vertical water column, from 0 to 2000 m, taking samples every 20 cm.”One month after Tara’s departure, the boat is in the port of Nice.This is the opportunity to take on board a new machine for scientific measurements: the CTD rosette… and to take stock of the situation with Gaby Gorsky, oceanographer at

Algiers-Barcelona: first microscopic pictures 10/05/2009

How is a collecting session carried out?Sampling sessions always follow the same pattern. We must first determine the collection area. For this purpose, on-land scientific coordinators send us satellite maps showing currents, salinity, temperature and chlorophyll concentration throughout the various areas of the Mediterranean. Session locations are determined in order to return to areas

CLYTIA HEMISPHAERICA: THE JELLY-FISH MOST FAVOURED BY LABORATORIES 10/05/2009

Algiers-Barcelona: first microscopic picturesLast week, we were joined onboard by Christian Sardet, one of the scientific coordinators of Tara Oceans, with all his microscopic photography equipment.Our first ever plankton pictures taken on board Tara!During the week, we had three collecting sessions. Every time the nets are lifted out, the largest plankton organisms are collected and regrouped in

CLYTIA HEMISPHAERICA: A FAVOURITE JELLY-FISH OF LABORATORIES 09/30/2009

CLYTIA HEMISPHAERICA: A FAVOURITE JELLY-FISH OF LABORATORIES Algiers-Barcelona: first microscopic picturesLast week, we were joined on board by Christian Sardet, one of the scientific coordinators of Tara Oceans, with all his microscopic photography equipment. Our first plankton photos & videos were taken on board Tara!During the week, we had three collecting sessions. Every time the

Summary of the previous week and what is expected for this week 09/28/2009

Last week’s summary and this week’s agenda Tangier, Algiers: At the heart of the currents Scientifically speaking, this week was exciting, the Gibraltar Straits is a complex area, where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet by generating high currents. First, we must know that evaporation is important in the Mediterranean, which explains the concentration of salinity of

Summary of the previous week and what is expected for this week 09/24/2009

Summary of the previous week and what is expected for this week Lisbon-Tangiers THE GATES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN This week we have not gone far in terms of distance as the crow flies. We run the gateway to the Mediterranean off Spain and Morocco, to produce two new plankton-sampling stations. Good sea, a few passing off drops... and water at 22° into which we did not take the time to bathe.

Summary of the previous week and what is expected for this week 09/21/2009

Summary of the previous week and what is expected for this week Lisbon-Tangiers THE GATES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN This week we have not gone far in terms of distance as the crow flies. We run the gateway to the Mediterranean off Spain and Morocco, to produce two new plankton-sampling stations. Good sea, a few passing off drops... and water at 22° into which we did not take the time to bathe.

THAT WAS CLOSE! 09/20/2009

The conferences of Tangiers You may be wondering what is the use of our harbour calls... to get our fill of fresh food and fuel of course, but also to promote awareness to the general public, the youth and the scientists on the issues of our expedition. While the crew prepared the overalls and the fire extinguishers for an onboard fire drill, our little scientific delegation made the big

THAT WAS CLOSE! 09/16/2009

THAT WAS CLOSE! I am on my 2 to 5 morning quarter shift with Julien, the chief engineer. Not that I love waking up in the middle of the night to go and watch over the deserted and dark sea, but in fact I am glad that the captain included me in the guard quarter shifts. I feel I belong to the crew.When we meet with Julien, we lean on the boat’s sea charts software to see where we are. We

D3 09/15/2009

What are we seeking? We are seeking the tiny and the overlooked, the basis of the global food chain: the species that make up the plankton. Yes, because the plankton is not a species by itself. This term comes from Greek planktos, which means: "drifting". Plankton is a group of animals, plants, viruses, and bacteria that leave themselves to be drifted in ocean currents. On board, we are

Day 3 09/14/2009

When Tara meets the whales We are 36 degrees north, almost at the latitude of Tangier, off the Portuguese coast. The day has been dedicated to sampling (the third one after our departure from Lorient). Now the sails are lowered, the engine is reduced to minimum and we drift over of the ocean depths (4000 m today). The Scientists use a wide range of nets and pumps in order to collect large volumes

D 3 09/12/2009

Day 7We leave Lisbon only after two and a half days of call! - 2 days to give a scientific conference to the Franco-Portuguese Institute on the aims of our expedition. - 2 days to meet with the French Ambassador in Lisbon and visit the embassy's valuable "porcelain room", acrobatically suspended from one of the ceilings.- 2 days to give some news live on Thalassa from the just past week. - 2 days

Day 2 Sampling 09/10/2009

Day 2 Sampling Gaby Gorsky, an oceanographer at Villefranche, is in a very good shape; this morning: "we'll do things of an overwhelming beauty, and it is for the good of mankind." What is exiting with enthusiasm so much Gaby Gorsky, our Czech scientist coordinator, is the CTD probe test. This device, which looks like two pipes in a metal frame with a sensor like a big round eye, measures the

Day 2 Sampling 09/09/2009

Day 2 Sampling Gaby Gorsky, an oceanographer at Villefranche, is in a very good shape; this morning: "we'll do things of an overwhelming beauty, and it is for the good of mankind." What is exiting with enthusiasm so much Gaby Gorsky, our Czech scientist coordinator, is the CTD probe test. This device, which looks like two pipes in a metal frame with a sensor like a big round eye, measures the

Day 1: Stories of satellites 09/08/2009

Day 1: Stories of satellites Our first awakening at sea! For some of us the night was fragmented, because the monitoring quarter shift system began. For others, the night was a good occasion for becoming seaworthy, to settle their body on Tara’s rolling. This morning we are in the middle of the Gulf of Biscay and the weather is fine. As soon as our oceanographer engineer Hervé Le

D Day 09/06/2009

D Day On the horizon, dozens of boats at the harbour entrance in our wake! Thousands of spectators were watching us from the quays, the dykes, and the beaches! We were given one last goodbye by all those hands waving and all those foghorns roaring to us! I almost want to pinch myself to make sure that I am on Tara’s deck. It is amazing, after weeks and months of waiting for some of us, we are

TARA OCEANS, a unique expedition 09/05/2009

TARA OCEANSA unique expeditionOn 5 September 2009, at noon, the Tara boat has departed from Lorient for a three-year expedition on all the world’s oceans. The oceans produce half the oxygen that we breathe. If the forests are the planet’s first lung, the oceans constitute the second lung. These plankton and other microorganism prairies constitute, by their photosynthetic activity, a huge

D-1 09/03/2009

J-1What is brewing up on Tara? A young spider weaves its web in the mast tower... a dome shaped metal structure hat stands up straight on the pontoon... a procession of trucks that invests the “Cité de la Voile”... One might think that an amazing sea circus is being set up! Tara is at the centre of everyone’s attention. Curious onlookers, journalists, camera operators capture the image of

D-2 09/03/2009

J-2 Only two days left to complete the remaining work on Tara. Today, I turned my attention on the men in blue overalls, those that attack the boat early in the morning, scatter on deck, and leave at the end of the day. They are hired by a Lorient shipyard company (Timolor) and their skills are indispensable on an almost complete aluminium boat, such as Tara. They are welders, coppersmiths,

D-3 09/02/2009

J- 3The floor to the Lorient people At three days from departure, I take leave from the boat for a little trip downtown Lorient. The idea is to know what people think of our boat and our future expedition. First stop: the La Base restaurant, which contemplates Tara from the “Cité de la Voile” quay. Nicolas, the bartender, does not know much about the scientific goal of the expedition, "but

J-10 09/01/2009

J-4The mystery of “alicotage”I had promised you the return of scientists aboard Tara. To answer my questions about their schedule for the day... they explained to me of having applied "alicotage”. What could this "alicotage” mean??! First reflex: check Internet. Here, either my search engine is outright zero, or scientists have spent the day making mashed potatoes with garlic, an Aubrac

D-5 08/31/2009

J - 5It is Sunday, so the only work to do is putting in order. wiring, repairing, stacking, connecting, degreasing, unblocking, loading, cleaning, sorting out, sweeping, painting, washing, varnishing, bolting, screwing, etc., nothing at all!!! Just one week before departure, every single day is precious. The dry and wet labs for the moment look like queer crammed closets full of equipment. Green

J-10 08/28/2009

J-10 Bonjour à tous ! Je prends la relève de notre capitaine Hervé Bourmaud pour vous raconter les coulisses de notre expédition. Je ne suis ni marin, ni scientifique... je m'appelle Sacha et je serai vos yeux et vos oreilles à bord de Tara. La première chose qui frappe l'observateur en arrivant sur Tara, c'est l'hétérogénéité de son équipage. Jeunes, vieux, chevelus ou

Tara au festival de Groix 08/24/2009

Tara at the Groix festivalUnder the sound of the unfolding anchor chain, Tara lets go her anchor at some short distance from Port Lay on the north coast of Groix Isle, which was for many years the refuge and rigging harbour for tuna sailboats. Some yellowed by time postcards relate the history of those times when it was possible to cross the harbour by stepping from one boat to another. This is

Métamorphose réussie de la goélette d’expédition polaire Tara, en navire océanographique dans les chantiers navals de Lorient 08/19/2009

Métamorphose réussie de la goélette d’expédition polaire Tara, en navire océanographique dans les chantiers navals de LorientDepuis le 23 février 2008, retour de la mission Tara-Damoclès qui aura duré 507 jours en Arctique, le voilier Tara a été entièrement inspecté, rénové, transformé en navire d’expédition océanographique dans les chantiers de la base de sous-marins

Setting into operation of the first measuring devices 08/11/2009

Setting into operation of the first measuring devices At the side of the prestigious Pen Duick fleet, Tara, moored at the Eric Tabarly Cité de la voile pontoon continues its preparation under the watchful eyes of interested visitors. They are often surprised to see on the aft of the boat the wet laboratory modifying somewhat the shape and futuristic aesthetics of the polar schooner. This week

Back on reality 08/06/2009

Du projet à la réalité… Dans le bruit et la chaleur de la salle des machines, Daniel, le mécanicien du bord, Jean-Luc de l’entreprise Mécamar ainsi que Sam, le second, inspectent et règlent les deux moteurs de 380 chevaux pour le grand périple autour du monde. Ces moteurs, à qui les doux noms de Thérèse à tribord et Brigitte à bâbord ont été donnés, ont eux aussi une grande

First trials at sea 07/21/2009

First trials at seaLike a mirror, the water of the Keroman fishing port reflects the image of Tara. Fate has moored us to the “Pourquoi pas?” wharf, named after the great polar exploration ship of the early 20th century under Charcot’s command, a forerunner in the uncovering and understanding of the extreme regions of our planet.For the moment, precedence is given to starting up the

And Tara returns to its element… 07/15/2009

And Tara returns to its element…After 4 months on dry land, the 120 tons of Tara were lifted last Tuesday by the travel hoist of the Keroman technical area for the short journey to the launching dock. These operations, after a long technical break, are always very emotional as well as tense moments for the crew, and equally for the metalworkers who have intervened on the hull.The reason for

Quand la baleine s’apprête à reprendre la mer… 06/29/2009

Quand la baleine s’apprête à reprendre la mer… Les dernières semaines avant la mise à l’eau sont toujours des moments d’intense activité. La phase finale du remontage n’est pas une chose facile car il faut souvent remodifier ou refaire afin d’ajuster au mieux. Les soudeurs et métalliers terminent pour ainsi dire dans l’urgence certains travaux. Dans le bruit incessant

D – 15 before the launch 06/22/2009

D – 15 before the launchThe launch of Tara is scheduled for July 6th. Many details still remain to be checked over fifteen days. Gradually, the fixtures fill the empty spaces freed by the dismantling required for the complete refurbishment of the boat, hence bringing it back to life. Last week’s milestone was the installation of the rear generator set dedicated to the operation of the

No break ... 06/08/2009

No break ... A smell of freshly cut wood flooded the library and the communications room. In the clanging noise of saws Baptiste and Stéphane are cutting the wooden planks that will be used for the fittings. It is a long and meticulous carpentry work giving a soul to these parts of the ship. In all the holds of Tara, the crew is working hard to reassemble the different circuits and other

Tara changes places 06/02/2009

Tara changes placesOn Monday morning, the lifting crane of the fishing port comes to hoist Tara’s 110 tons, to place itself, after a knowledgeable manoeuvre, in front of the “cathedral” just around the corner from the Timolor shipyards. The ship is keel-laid on the tins keels down by the crane operators of the technical area. Tara is positioned lower than previously, and in order to secure

Une affaire d’isolation… 05/25/2009

An insulation matter…As a polar ship, Tara is soundly insulated.Designed to resist the powerful pressure of ice and extreme cold temperatures, particular consideration was given while she was being built to the insulation of the deck and planking. The insulating material under the deck is some 60 cm thick (2 ft.). The insulation of the planking is just an example of what had to be implemented

A turning point in the shipyard 05/18/2009

A turning point in the shipyardIn the time trial we have set for ourselves, each week counts and brings its lot of bad news and fulfilments. The preparation of Tara for its new operation as an oceanographic laboratory is going full steam ahead. We are at the rebuilding stage, which includes the fitting of the standby generator in the bow hold. These new generation engines, less polluting, will

Vie de chantier 05/11/2009

Life at the shipyard…When a boat is in dry-dock for careening purposes, the pace of our lives as seamen changes. Used to the world of departures, harbours, to the noise of the water against the hull and of the wind surfing over the surface of the sea, such periods of preparation mean that we put down our bags and resume our landsmen life.Days on site are very much the same, but each one is a

New stages: inspection of the dagger-board casings and interior refurbishment 05/07/2009

New stages: inspection of the dagger-board casings and interior refurbishmentThe hoist gently travels over the 130 tons of Tara and lifts her a few metres so that both dagger-boards can be lowered. Then, the boat is secured in its raised position by two heavy wood blocks called “tins”. This operation will enable us to check the inside of the casings, and re-paint them to help protect these

The shipyard as it goes and stop ! 04/27/2009

under translation... sorry for the delay.

Tara adapts to science 04/14/2009

Tara adapts to scienceThe preparation of Tara Oceans is being carried out in close cooperation with the international scientists. The water samples collected in all worldwide oceans will enable the build-up of an invaluable database for the study of the biomass and the cell world. These samplings will be carried out in two different ways:- Firstly, and every other day, Tara will remain “in

Les travailleurs de la matière 04/06/2009

The workers of the material Tara’s big aft mast, hoisted up by a 55 ton and 40 metre boom crane, is accurately positioned on the deck. After three week’s work on the rig, Tara, the proud polar schooner is recovering its travelling bird’s wings. To draw the sea gods’ favour, a coin is placed under the mast’s mainsail pad, an old tradition originating from the times of the sails navy.

Au pays des soudeurs 03/30/2009

In the land of welders The dockyard area of Lorient, where we've now been staying for 3 weeks, is firstly the welders’ universe. Transporting all sorts of tools, copper pipes or aluminium bars, wearing leather vests which protect their blue overalls from the incandescent jets of solders, these workers look like knights come from ancient times. They are the real specialists of ship

Chacun sa tâche pour un même but… 03/23/2009

Chacun sa tâche pour un même but…Malgré la polyvalence des membres de l'équipage de Tara, chacun d'entre eux possède son domaine de prédilection et assume sa responsabilité dans la diversité du travail que représente le chantier avant une telle expédition. Ce sont les compétences, les expériences personnelles et collectives qui assurent la bonne marche des travaux. Certains, qui

In the whale’s belly 03/17/2009

In the whale’s belly Tara, out of the water, with her masts disassembled, is now completely empty. A look in the workshop and in the engines room shows the structural elements of the ship, usually hidden behind the various equipments. A thorough inspection of this aluminium monster’s entrails is carried out in all its lesser little corners in search of any corrosion points. Moreover, for

Entrée dans le vif des travaux… 03/10/2009

Entrée dans le vif des travaux…Dans le fond de la darse de pêche, éclairé dans la nuit par les feux des énormes lampadaires de la zone technique, Tara est sorti délicatement de l’eau par les gigantesques bras de la grue de levage. La coque grise de la baleine rejoint alors son emplacement pour quelques semaines. Une fois le bateau calé sur les tins, les dérives et la chaîne

Close encounters of the third type... 03/02/2009

Close encounters of the third type...Third type because there are personalities that may be considered as outstanding. Samantha Davis is certainly among them just like those offshore racers with whom we rub shoulders with at the BSM port. It’s with great pleasure that Tara sailed to meet “Roxy” during her return sailing to the Lorient port. We welcomed the navigator by our powerful foghorn

Tara on the Seine 02/12/2009

Tara on the Seine Large snow flakes driven by a cold wind covered the deck. Tara was covered by a thin snowy layer making manoeuvring through the sluices more dangerous. Going down the Seine, the schooner, with its masts resting on gantries, looks like a bird with its wings folded in a surrealist landscape. 20 years ago Tara took this river routes after being built not far from Paris at the

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Newsworthy

05/18/2013

Exhibition - Tara Expeditions discovery of a new world : the Ocean

05/18/2013

Discover the exhibition "Tara Expeditions discovery of a new world : the Ocean", on the Eric Tabarly Cité de la Voile Esplanade In Lorient, France.

Free entry on May 18th and 19th for Taras departure.
Exhibiton until Septembre 29th 2013.

05/18/2013

Departure weekend of Tara Oceans Polar Circle, new expedition in the Arctic

05/18/2013

Tara will embark in May 2013 to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean via the Northeast and Northwest passages -- a scientific and academic adventure covering 25,000 kms and lasting 6 months. This international expedition will be in collaboration with countries bordering the Arctic Ocean and in association with the Principality of Monaco. To learn more click here

05/13/2013

Taras' new flash

05/13/2013

To learn more about Taras new expedition in the Arctic, click here to read Taras' flash journal.

04/25/2013

Explore Google Ocean with Tara

04/25/2013

Write "Tara" on the research of Sylviaearlealliance's website
or click bellow

04/11/2013

PARIS APPEAL FOR THE HIGH SEAS

04/11/2013

Discover and sign Paris Appeal for the High Seas !

03/21/2013

OCEANOMICS, funded by Investments for the Future

03/21/2013

03/05/2013

Tara live

03/05/2013

Follow Tara on www.marinetraffic.com

Insert the boats AIS number in the top right corner : 226070000

02/12/2013

Tara in Nowness by Spencer Lowell

02/12/2013

Watch the video here. By Spencer Lowell (3min)

09/10/2012

Tara Expeditions Blogs

09/10/2012

Find Tara Expeditions content in our blogs in several languages: - spanish - italian - portuguese

06/21/2012

Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations speaks to Tara at Rio +20

06/21/2012

Part of the speach :

"Earlier this year, I had the chance to board the Tara Expeditions when it docked in New York.
The crew was really inspiring. They shared so much information with me about oceans and climate change. I am really grateful that they are raising awareness around the world … and I am very proud that the United Nations is supporting them.
As I stood on the Tara that day in February, I stood on the deck and looked out at downtown Manhattan. We were surrounded by skyscrapers but we had a window on the deep blue sea. It was a reminder that our worlds are connected.
I promised the crew that I would continue working with dedication for the planet’s oceans.
Now, Rio has to put more wind in our sails, so we can navigate the waves to a better future.
Let us advance for our oceans and our world."

Rio de Janeiro, 21 June 2012

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