Artists Set Sail to Catch the 'Colorful Killers'

Internationally renowned flautist and passionate anti-plastic pollution campaigner Jane Rutter has launched a unique Manly Arts Festival event designed to highlight the looming problem of marine plastics.

"If you love the ocean, if you love the environment, if you love art, if you love music, please give up just 

one piece of disposable plastic a day,"Ms Rutter said."More than 50% of the world's disposable plastic ends up in the ocean and we can't sustain it."

From September 19-22 and 27-29, eleven well-known Manly artists will join the crew of the East Coast Odyssey Expedition on board their tall ship Yukon to create their own special depiction of the issue.

Guests are invited on half-day cruises to watch the artists create, ask questions, learn about the ocean from the crew and sail the Yukon, an 80 year-old Danish ketch.

The East Coast Odyssey is the first expedition of its kind to tackle insidious micro-plastics in Australian waters with the crew collecting vital data en route from Hobart along Australia's east coast.

Katherine Roberts, Manly Arts Festival coordinator, said the festival was delighted to be involved with the mission to 'catch the colourful killers', the millions of multi-coloured plastic remnants killing marine wildlife and poisoning seafood at an alarming rate.

"The Manly Arts Festival has a focus on the conservation of our natural environment, so it is most fitting that we join forces and support the team on the Yukon on their important and historic mission to gather data on plastic pollution," Ms Roberts said.

The Yukon will be taking half-day cruises until October 8, including during the International Naval Review. Guests can board from Quarantine Station Wharf.

Manly Arts Festival Half-day cruises can be purchased online here: http://wildiaries.com

Or at the Manly Kayak Centre - 1300 529 257 sales@manlykayakcentre.com.au  1/40 East Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095

MANLY ARTS FESTIVAL & EAST COAST ODYSSEY SCHEDULE

Thurs Sep 19th   8-12 AM,    Rachel Carroll / Fiona Verity

Fri Sep 20th        2-6 PM,      Dave Wiggs

Sat Sep 21st       1-5 PM,      Jessica Watts

Sun Sep 22nd      8-12 AM,   Cade Turner

Sun Sep 22nd      2-6 PM,     Alicia Poppett

[Yukon sets sail for 4 days out of Sydney]

Fri Sep 27th     8-12 AM,    Andrew LO

Sat Sep 28th    8-12 AM,    Julia Sample

Sat Sep 28th    2-6 PM,      Leesa Knight

Sun Sep 29th   8-12 AM,    Leonel Sanchez

Sun Sep 29th   1-5 PM,      Shona Wilson

Additional cruise opportunities from Sep 30th onwards (see East Coast Odyssey website) http://eastcoastodyssey.wildiaries.com/