Interview with Samuel from Project Interrupt

Talk about a man with an important mission!

Samuel McLennan from Project Interrupt recently built a raft entirely from Tasmanian waste and sailed from Hobart across the Bass Strait, stopping at schools along the way to share an environmental message. The ultimate goal of Samuel's Project Interrupt is to ignite conversations about the need for action and innovation to tackle ocean pollution. 

For those that aren't familiar with Australia's Bass Straight, it is the body of water between Tasmania and mainland Australia. The Bass Straight is home to the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and often referred to as some of the most treacherous waters in the world. At the end of last year two sailors lost their lives competing in the race in a professional yacht. The sails on Samuel's raft are made from oyster lease bags and took more than three weeks of nearly non-stop hand weaving to finish. The front of the raft is made up of repurposed pipes. What an incredible challenge it must have been crossing an open ocean in the raft!

Before we hear more about Samuel's story, let's understand a few hard-hitting statistics about ocean plastic and pollution.

Over 14 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year (IUCN, 2021). There are an estimated 150 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean today (World Economic Forum, 2022). Humans consume an estimated 5 grams of plastic per week (about the weight of a credit card) through food, water, and air (WWF, 2019). Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die each year due to plastic pollution (UNESCO, 2022).

Australia's plastic use resulted in over 16 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, equivalent to the emissions from approximately 5.7 million cars annually (Australian Marine Conservation Society, 2023).

Now let’s dive into Samuel's incredible story crossing the Bass Straight in a DIY raft made from waste.

Where are you from, and how did you become an environmental activist?

I was born in Hobart, Tasmania, but I’ve spent most of my life in different parts of Australia and the world. I've been an environmental activist since I was born. As a baby, if I got too hot under a blanket, I cried. If I got too cold, I cried. If the sun was in my eyes, I cried.

It seems like being an activist is a deep, natural instinct in all of us.

What inspired you to start Project Interrupt, and what’s the story behind the name?

For 12 years, I put everything I had into launching various business ideas, but nothing took off. I was homeless, broke, single, and felt unsupported. At one point, I proposed repurposing an old Tasmanian ferry into an island in the hopes of showcasing innovation and creativity. The government rejected it. Frustrated, I complained to my dad, and he said, “Why don’t you build your innovation island out of fish farm debris? There’s plenty of that around.” It all unfolded from there.

How did the name Project Interrupt come about?

At first, I had no idea this would turn into what it is today. It started as a way to work through my own personal struggles. The name Project Interrupt came about five months in. The way we think, speak, and perceive rubbish leads to it ending up in the environment. Many people don’t realise how microplastics will eventually kill nearly everything (including us). So, we need an interruption, because without one, the future is predictable. Rubbish on the inside = Rubbish on the outside.

Can you share a standout moment from your journey? Maybe a time you almost gave up?

A few months into collecting debris and building the innovation island, I had a vision while I was at a music festival. I saw myself sailing on an ocean, on a vessel made from rubbish. It was powerful. Tears started flowing because I knew if I didn’t keep going, I’d always wonder what could have been. At that moment, I realised I was at a fork in the road. I chose to live without regrets. And here I am!

What’s been the biggest challenge with Project Interrupt, and how did you overcome it?

Dealing with rejection, especially from naysayers and negative people. It was tough to accept that some people couldn’t see the value in what I was doing, even though it benefits everyone. At first, I took it personally. But over time, I learned to sit with those feelings, and eventually, they dissolved.

If you could take anyone (past or present) on a sailing adventure, who would it be and why?

At first, I’d say Richard Branson for his boldness, Elon Musk for his vision, or the Dalai Lama for his wisdom. But really? I’d take the most down-and-out person; the one society has written off. Someone who’s completely lost hope but is still willing to listen. They’re the horse that will drink when you lead them to water.

What advice would you give someone looking to blend adventure and purpose into their career?

Go for it! Experiences are one of the most valuable things in life - new and unimaginable moments that engage all your senses. The memories will stay with you forever, and you’ll grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And when you add a purpose beyond yourself, the universe tends to support you. The more I serve the world around me, the more my internal needs are met.

What’s your favorite thing to cook on the sailing boat and why?

Any new flavour combination! For example, on my birthday in Refuge Cove, I made a salad with:

• Three-week-old cucumber

• Lettuce

• Chopped jalapeños

• Soy sauce & balsamic vinegar

• Kewpie mayonnaise

A twist on an Asian cucumber salad!

What’s one piece of gear you can’t live without on the water?

My phone, for the marine navigation charts and weather apps. Before setting sail, I monitor winds, swells, and tides within a 1,000 km radius to understand how they’ll affect my journey. The apps also overlay satellite imagery onto nautical charts, giving me a realistic bird’s-eye view of potential hazards which is especially useful at night.

If Project Interrupt had a theme song, what would it be?

Something that goes for hours, like the Birdman soundtrack. A mix of:

• Iluminar – Porangui

• I Am – Satsang

• Gopala Lullaby – Jai Uttal, Ben Leinbach

• Pachamama – Beautiful Chorus

• Taste of Truth – Fia

What’s one piece of advice you’d like SEAOAK readers to take away?

The moment I realised I was acting like a victim, blaming the world’s problems (rubbish, discrimination, destruction, corruption) for my disempowerment. I saw how that mindset was holding me back. It only takes a mental shift to go from feeling powerless to taking action.

The SEAOAK team will be following Samuel’s adventure as he continues pushing boundaries in the name of environmental action. 

Check out the Project Interrupt website and Facebook page!