A golden evening on Lake Ontario. Wikipedia Commons Photo.
In the last week, we have had a lot of inquiries about the upcoming Freshwater Research and Scientific Communications course. The course, which will be held on board our sailing vessel, Sea Dragon, this July. We are thrilled to tell you that the course is filling up rapidly, and as the summer approaches, we are all beginning to look forward to sunny sailing along the St. Lawrence Seaway, and through Lake Ontario.
Some people were wondering why it is that we chose to run our undergraduate course between Montreal and Toronto, Canada. It’s a good question, and one I posed recently to the course leader, Dr. Sherri (Sam) Mason.
Dr. Mason graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin before completing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Montana as a NASA Earth System Science scholar. She is currently an Associate Professor at SUNY Fredonia in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research interests are focused upon plastic pollution within freshwater ecosystems. In addition to her primary academic role she serves as the coordinator of the Environmental Sciences program and the Sustainability Coordinator for the SUNY FACE Center.
Dr. Mason lakeside looking for plastic particles in beach sand. Photo from WBFO's new website
Dr. Mason is a pioneer in freshwater plastic pollutions research. During the summer of 2012, Dr. Mason and a team of 20 undergraduate students aboard the tall ship Flagship Niagara, a wooden ship that’s replica vessel from the War of 1812. Dr. Mason and her crew conducted the first-ever survey for plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, using a manta trawl to collect samples within the open waters of the 3 of the 5 Great lakes (Superior, Huron and Erie).
No one knew what Dr. Mason’s team would find in the Great Lakes, but the results turned out to be shocking.Two of the 21 samples they collected contained 600,000 plastic pieces per square kilometre — nearly twice as much as the highest plastic count ever recorded in the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
This summer, as a part of Pangaea’s Freshwater Research course, Dr. Mason plans on having students collect plastic debris samples in the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as Lake Ontario, to compare to the samples found in Lakes Superior, Huron and Erie. Lake Ontario is the furthest lake downstream in the Great Lakes, and is fed by the movement of water from Lake Erie via Niagara Falls. Mason has theorized that the highest concentrations of plastic debris could be found in Lake Ontario, and is eager to investigate.
I spoke to Dr. Mason recently about what drives her to study freshwater plastics pollution. For a more detailed interview with Dr. Mason, you can check out her interview on Dialogues TV:
Shot from Dialogues' Episode with Dr. Sherri Mason
Pangaea Explorations: What inspired you to study plastic pollution issues?
Dr. Mason: One of my favorite classes to teach is a nonmajors Environmental Chemistry course in which I get to introduce the plethora of environmental issues facing our society. I have been teach about plastic pollution in that class for ten years.
PE:What do you think are the most pressing environmental issues for the Great Lakes at the moment?
Dr. Mason: Unfortunately the most pressing environmental issues for the Great Lakes haven’t changed much. This region was the cornerstone for the industrial revolution within the US and we are still dealing with the aftermath of all that industrialization. PCBs, which were banned in the US in 1979, are still present in significant amounts, as are Dioxins, Furans, DDT and Mercury. These POP (persistent organic pollutant) species have been and continue to be a major environmental concern for this region.
The presence of plastic within the great Lakes only adds an additional layer of complexity to this issue because we know that they adsorb POPs from the surrounding water, hyper-concentrating them on their surface and thereby aiding in their ability to migrate into the food chain.
Dr. Mason on board the Tall ship Flagship NiagaraPE: What is being done to combat plastic pollutions in the Great Lakes region now?
Dr. Mason: Until our initial survey during the Summer of 2012, this wasn’t even known to be an issue. In fact a number of government officials I spoke to in advance of our expedition didn’t believe we would find anything. But we did. I don’t think anything is really being done right now to combat plastic pollution within the Great Lakes, but I hope that will quickly change.
PE:What will students be learning during the Freshwater Research Course?
Dr. Mason: We will start with just a basic overview of the Great Lakes system: how and when they were created, characteristics of each of the lakes within the system and differences between the lakes. We will then move on to basic water quality measurements (hands-on) and plastic pollution surveys. We plan (time permitting) to also discuss eutrophication, PPCPs, invasive species and environmental policies of the Great Lakes.
PE: Are there any new technologies or ideas out there that can help us tackle freshwater environmental pollution?
Dr. Mason: The best solution for any environmental problem is to start at the source of the issue. So rather than looking to new technologies to help “fix” the problem, stop the problem before it starts. Switching from modern agricultural methods (which involve using large quantities of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers) to more organic methods, for example, can do a lot with regard to current issues with algal blooms and eutrophication. Similarly, decreasing our use of single-use disposable plastic items, like bags, straws, and bottles, can dramatically reduce the amount of plastic that is in our water.
PE: What do you love about sailing in the Great Lakes?
Collecting samples on board Flagship Niagara
Dr. Mason: I lived along the shores of the Great Lakes for 10 years before I ever went out in them, and it wasn’t until I went sailing the Great Lakes for the first time that I truly appreciated them. They are amazing!
The lakes truly are beautiful, breath-taking and powerful. I think that every-single person, all 35 million of us that live within the Great Lakes watershed, should go sailing at least once on the Great Lakes.Once you’ve seen the lakes froma sail boat, you appreciate what they are- how vast, amazing and beautiful they are. From then on, you want to do anything you can to make sure they stay that way.
To learn more about the Freshwater Research and Scientific Communications Course, click here:
To read more about Dr. Sherri Mason’s 2012 Expedition, check these articles out:
Allen, Katie. November 29, 2012. “High Levels of Plastics Found in the Great Lakes”. Toronto Star Newspaper article.
Most people experience the Pacific from 35,000 feet in the air.
But sailing across it changes your relationship with distance completely.
You notice the gradual shifts in weather, the wildlife around you, and the feeling of arriving somewhere slowly instead of instantly. Remote islands feel even more remote when you’ve crossed the ocean to reach them.
It takes longer, of course. But that’s kind of the point.
The Pacific was never meant to be rushed through.
#Panexplore #PacificOcean #OceanCrossing #SailingAdventure #AdventureTravel #RemoteIslands #LifeAtSea #ExploreMore
Ever looked at calm, glassy water and assumed conditions were safe? 🌅
The ocean can appear completely flat while strong tidal currents, offshore winds, and underlying swell are still active beneath the surface. In some areas, wind may blow steadily offshore without creating noticeable waves near the coast, while powerful currents continue moving through otherwise calm-looking water.
For sailors, this is why sea state alone never tells the full story. Conditions are also shaped by tide, underwater terrain, wind direction, and local geography, especially around headlands, channels, and narrow passages.
Experienced crews constantly monitor charts, forecasts, and changing water patterns rather than relying only on what the surface appears to show. Sometimes the calmest-looking water can still demand the most attention.
#Panexplore #SailTheWorld #OffshoreLife #SailingTips #SailingInstagram #SailTrip
📸 Meet your expedition photographer for The Viking Route! Brian Doyle @briandoylephoto has worked with National Geographic, Red Bull, and Canon — and he’s spending 18 days with us crossing the Denmark Strait, Greenland to Iceland, the old Viking way.
⛵️ You’ll stand watch, learn the ropes, and pick up a thing or two about shooting in extraordinary Arctic light along the way.
23 Jul – 9 Aug 2026. Spots are limited.
🔗Link in bio
#photographer #natgeo #expedition #sailing
We’re official 🏁⛵️
Panexplore is proud to be an Official Race Supporter of the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race @bermudarace — 100 years of one of ocean sailing’s greatest blue-water classics 🌊
Next Friday, June 19th — come watch 155 boats launch on a 636-mile Atlantic passage at the Starting Line Festival, Fort Adams, Newport 🧭
🎵 Live music
🍔 Food trucks & bars
📺 Live race commentary
👨👩👧 Kids’ zone & family activities
💥 Cannon signal countdown to the start
Free entry. Free parking. 11am–4pm. 👋
🔗 bermudarace.com @cruisingclubofamerica @royalbermudayc
#NewportBermudaRace #OffshoreRacing #OceanRacing #SailingLife
It’s easy to assume something like this is out of reach.
Too technical, too unfamiliar… maybe even a little intimidating at first.
But that’s usually before you’ve actually tried it.
Because once you’re there, learning step by step and getting more comfortable each day, it starts to feel a lot more possible than you expected.
You stop overthinking it. You trust yourself more.
And by the end of it, you’re not the same person who hesitated at the beginning.
#Panexplore #WomenWhoExplore #SailingAdventure #AdventureTravel #LifeAtSea #TrySomethingNew #ConfidenceJourney #ExploreMore
Welcome to the Crew joining for our next sailing expedition up Newfoundland and across the Labrador Sea to the very icy Nuuk, Greenland 🇬🇱
Skipper Ineke has briefed on passage planning, weather forecast and ice coverage. It’ll be windy, cold and icey! 🥶 proper adventure!
They’ll have to be on a strict iceberg watch 🧊
But next stop: St John’s, Newfoundland!
#panexplore #adventure #highlatitude #icebergs #sailing
📸 @christoffer_moshiri
“Sail through the good days, and on bad days pick a spot of blue sky to steer toward.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes ⛵
Life offshore has a way of putting things into perspective. Some days bring smooth seas, golden sunsets, and easy miles. Others test your patience, your resilience, and your ability to keep moving forward.
But somewhere between the watches, conversations on deck, and shared moments at sea, you’re reminded that even difficult days pass. Sometimes all you need is a direction to keep steering toward.
Sea Dragon has become that place for many people, a space to disconnect from the noise, reconnect with nature, and return to something simpler for a while.
#Panexplore #SailTheWorld #OceanJourney #OceanAdventures #SailingInstagram #TrySomethingNew
🌊 World Oceans Week with The Explorers Club 🌊
One of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
A 72ft expedition vessel. And a cause worth bidding for.
We’re donating a Galápagos sailing expedition to the @the_explorers_club #WOW2026 auction — because exploration and conservation belong together.
Link in bio to bid.
#WorldOceanWeek #Galapagos #OceanExploration #SailTheWorld ConservationMatters Panexplore
Join NatGeo photographer Brian Doyle aboard SV Sea Dragon for an 18-day Arctic passage from Nuuk, Greenland to Reykjavík, Iceland. Learn to shoot pictures like a professional in extraordinary light, in extraordinary places — while actually crossing an ocean.
July 23 – August 9 · $6,990 · limited avail, HURRY UP!!!
🔗 Link in bio.
@briandoylephoto
#TheVikingRoute #PhotoExpedition #ArcticAdventure #ExpeditionSailing #Panexplore NatGeoPhotographer Greenland Iceland
There’s something powerful about stepping into the unknown, especially when you’re not doing it alone.
In August 2026, an all-female crew will set sail across the North Atlantic, navigating more than 550 nautical miles from Iceland to the Faroe Islands. Delivered in collaboration with Her Planet Earth, this is a demanding, fully immersive offshore passage where participants won’t just be along for the journey, they’ll be actively sailing, standing watch, and adapting to constantly changing conditions.
Participants won’t just cross the ocean. They’ll learn how to navigate it. Step into leadership. Make decisions that matter in real time. And beyond the experience itself, the expedition contributes to a wider mission, supporting women-led environmental initiatives and expanding representation in offshore sailing.
#Panexplore #SailTheWorld #OffShoreLife #SailingInstagram #WomenWhoExplore #TrySomethingNew
Saying yes to something like this doesn’t always feel easy.
It’s a bit unknown, a bit outside your usual routine, and definitely not your typical kind of trip.
But once you’re out there, you settle into it. You learn, you adapt, and you become part of something that feels both challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time.
Crossing an ocean isn’t just about getting from one place to another; it’s everything that happens along the way.
#Panexplore #SailingAdventure #CrossTheOcean #AdventureTravel #LifeAtSea #ExploreMore #BucketListTravel #RealAdventure
Legend says this is the original spinnaker of Global Challenge @barclaysuk CB37…so when it got torn across the Atlantic last year, we sent it to @northsails to repair it. Why get a new one when we get to use this incredible piece of history?
Come and join us onboard Challenge 72 Legend SV Sea Dragon along the coasts of Nova Scotia & Newfoundland - see our itinerary and book your berth before it’s too late!
🔗 Link in Bio
