This 60ft catamaran made from plastic bottles has finally taken to the water

Crazy boat, crazy idea.

This is the plastic water bottle boat Plastiki undergoing some sea trials in San Francisco Bay.

The 60ft catamaran is the brainchild of British banking heir and adventurer David de Rothschild, whose aim is to promote smarter ways of using recycled resources.

The 31-year-old will sail the boat across the Pacific to Australia to promote what he calls “a better Planet 2.0 way of living”.

The boat was named Plastiki because it was partly inspired by Thor Heyderdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition. It has been built from around 12,000 two-litre plastic water bottles bound together in a retaining net and fitted over a plywood frame. Each bottle is filled with 12 grams of dry ice to make them stronger.

Down below, Plastiki will be fully fitted out and I’m told that it will include – get this – a composting toilet and sustainable vegetable garden.