Jumping Sue
A Dhow Enabled Transect
This is a follow-on piece to Taylor’s prior posts The Key to Saving the World and Tengefu Tapestry. In September of 2023, we set off to Kenya, Africa on the first Sea Collective Expedition. Aside from adding Kenya to our global transect “bucket-list” we were also interested in Dr. Tim McClanahan’s marine protected area strategies. However, what you Sea Collective fans may not know is Taylor’s research strategy involves using sailboats to mitigate the carbon footprint during our data collection and research efforts. This revolutionary approach is yet another example of Sea Collective’s commitment to protecting our oceans.
This is where our blog’s main character makes her debut. Jumping Sue, is a traditional African Dhow made of seven types of locally sourced wood: Teak, Mahogany, Iron Wood, Mangrove, Forrest Wood, and Ukulu. While we were sailing across the Lamu Archipelago off the northernmost coast of Kenya, Jumping Sue’s Captain, Jawad, explained why each of the individual woods were selected for his ship. Every one possessed unique properties that were essential to the vessel’s construction and functionality and were chosen for their harmonious compatibility and contribution to Jumping Sue’s seaworthiness.
For instance, Iron Wood was used for the keel and as its name implies it is the strongest and most dense of all the woods used in her construction. In contrast to her more modern sailing cousins, a traditional Dhow does not have a weighted keel protruding beneath the hull for stability. Instead, Jumping Sue’s incredibly heavy Iron Wood centerline ensures that she will remain upright under the most turbulent of conditions while in an aggressive heel. Jawad also lauded that his boat’s Iron Wood centerline, could smash rocks! The Sea Collective Team was grateful that we did not test his theory during our expedition.
Jumping Sue’s fine lines, natural wood colors and the cut of her jib is a glory to behold. She was lovingly maintained day and night by her Captain and crew, and in return for their conservation, she glided effortlessly across the open ocean, spiriting the Sea Collective Team to incredibly beautiful destinations like Pata and Kiwayu Islands. Nestled safely on her comfortable deck, we worked, conducted pre-dive briefs, enjoyed our meals, and slept soundly above the Indian Ocean’s gently rolling waters. As we fell more deeply under her spell, we came to realize that she offered a safe harbor for the blossoming relationship between the Sea Collective Team and crew of Jumping Sue. Our days were spent full of carefree laughter and a growing admiration for a shared commitment to saving our oceans and the people that depend on it.
Through our shared passion, we evolved into environmentally conscious advocates for Kenya’s small scale fisheries and coastal environs. As the voyage unfolded we were humbled, by how utterly reliant these remote coastal communities were on the ocean and its bountiful resources. A large percentage of the people we visited earn a living from the sea and more importantly, sustain their families on fish and other sea life.
In our journeys, we discovered that these island communities also rely entirely on the sea as a transportation and trade network. Despite efforts from government and non-governmental organizations, the small scale fisheries we visited are unable to establish meaningful trade between population centers due to insufficient modern resources. A lack of refrigeration and ice production are just two of the limiting factors impeding the transportation of fresh fish to market. At two separate meetings, local leaders in the villages we visited on Pata highlighted that this equipment requires solar power which in its present state is woefully inadequate.
The Sea Collective Team spent over a month traveling throughout Africa, both in the coastal communities of Kenya and and the mountainous villages of Tanzania. We bore witness to a disproportionate effort by locals to adhere to sustainable practices despite bearing little responsibility for the current global climate plight. We, and by “we” I mean the more privileged citizens of the global North, need to increase our appreciation for the impact that our choices have on those who have the most “skin in the game”.
Dr. Jason Hickel, an economic anthropologist who focuses on global political economy, inequality, and ecological economics asserts “at a 2.7 degrees of warming, which is our present policy trajectory, two billion people will be exposed to extreme heat. 99.7% of those people live in the global South, people who have done nothing to cause this crisis.” This research indicates that the nations and communities most impacted by environmentally irresponsible behavior are not “at the helm” for excess emissions. The injustice of these findings is absolutely shocking and should inspire each of us to do better.
This blog began as a “feel good” piece covering the Sea Collective Team’s experiences on Jumping Sue. So, how do we find ourselves having a much heavier conversation about the inequity of global climate change? Well, similar to Jawad’s careful selection of the different types of wood for Jumping Sue to improve her performance, each of our Planet’s environments serve a particular function in sustaining life.
Sea Collective is most interested in the intersection between the marine environment and its neighboring coastal societies. Our Founder believes the key to mitigating global climate change is inextricably linked to the health of our oceans. While the Sea Collective Team was embarked on Jumping Sue, we looked to her crew for guidance on how to deal with each day’s challenges, whether that was a sudden torrential downpour or a change in the wind that required a course adjustment. There can be a parallel drawn between the Sea Collective Team’s reliance on the crew of Jumping Sue and our current climate predicament. Bridging the gap between the global North and South is key to effecting positive climate change.
Sea Collective is much more than a small group of people committed to reversing the impacts of climate change on these coastal communities. We intend to work with local subject matter experts to gather data and develop a template that supports equitable conservation. Success will also require advocacy from the nations and people with the resources to make a difference. Like Jumping Sue and her natural beauty, our planet is a spectacular vessel that each of us has a responsibility toward maintaining. Whether you are part of the crew or a passenger on planet earth, we are collectively responsible for her maintenance if we hope to enjoy a safe passage.
Matt Palma, Expedition Architect
