Having crossed the Atlantic Ocean on their fossil-fuel-free vessel “Ya” and exploring the Caribbean Sea, Inge van Berkel and Peter Hoefnagel were surprised at how much Sargassum weed they encountered; “When there was a lot of weed, it was really unpleasant and dangerous because the weed clogs near the rudders and the keel, slowing the boat down and even altering its course in some cases. It is an immense problem for the Caribbean, because where the beaches are covered in Sargassum, tourists will leave and locals too as it’s so unhealthy (we really saw that on Grenada!) It is an awful sight and when it lies there, rotting, it stinks – beyond description.”

This is their own study and research into Sargassum weed and makes for an interesting read for any trans-Atlantic and Caribbean sailor.