Gray 
Lucy Campbell is no stranger to the waves.
The British surfing winner, 25, has travelled the planet discovering the ideal browsing spots from Indonesia to Devon.
On her travels she’s lived on a boat in the Maldives, fallen in love with Mexican delicacies and explored the coastal towns of Portugal.
But she’s also witnessed initially-hand how plastic is influencing seashores and oceans around the earth, from the United kingdom to Senegal, Africa.
We chatted to her about the standout moments from her maritime adventures.
What is your favourite on-the-waves minute?
I journey for a lot of the year – I have been household for about a thirty day period of this yr so considerably. But it would have to be my previous vacation a number of months in the past, which was a lot more on the sea.
I was lucky enough to be in the Maldives on a are living-aboard boat, so it intended we could journey to wherever the waves had been best and stay outdoor all the time on the ocean.
I achieved a new personal greatest of spending nine several hours 1 working day in the sea. It was the complete dream.
What is your favourite holiday getaway vacation spot?
There are so lots of for unique causes. Portugal is astounding since it’s very near, so it is effortless to access genuinely excellent waves for schooling and it is wonderful climate.
I appreciate all around but specially Sines, just south of Lisbon, which has gorgeous, quieter beaches.
The south coast is wonderful too. I have been on very long weekend outings to sites this kind of as Rome with spouse and children. But I’m certainly happiest by the sea.
What are the best and worst foods you’ve had abroad?
I enjoy contemporary seafood. On the boat we have been carrying out a ton of fishing so we built refreshing sashimi, which is to die for.
That is up there with the best, along with Mexico, possibly my favorite region for foods, with the tacos and burritos, all the great stuff.
Worst? I experienced an octopus stew in South Sumatra. It was so overcooked you could not chew it.
Where’s the top spot to surf?
Indonesia is the most consistent browsing spot. You’re guaranteed great swell, great waves, very good wind.
We had a excellent selection in the Maldives – everything from pretty testing, out-of-my-convenience-zone waves to just enjoyable, playful laughing about with mates.
Sometimes the wind was so relaxed you could see fish swimming concerning the coral under as you sat on your board. It felt like you were being in an aquarium.
Where’s your favourite location to be in the United kingdom?
My dwelling is in North Devon, the place there is a wave named Croyde, which to me is the greatest beach front break in the United kingdom – I may perhaps be biased.
There are also so numerous charming spots all-around Cornwall and it does kick up a little little bit a lot more swell off the Atlantic. I love Scotland as very well – there are entire world-class waves. It’s so cold and rugged.
The most properly-recognised is Thurso, up by John O’Groats. We experienced a contest there early previous calendar year and it was snowing so tough involving heats they had to maintain it off for a minute – it was a complete white-out.
I was donning a five-mil wetsuit with boots, gloves and hoods, so it was only the tiniest minor component of your encounter that actually felt the chilly. The toughest component was getting adjusted in the vehicle park later on.
Have you found a variation in sea pollution in the time you’ve been surfing?
I remember seeing the odd paint can or glove floating previous in the h2o when I first began surfing. But the factor I have noticed the most in the British isles not long ago is the microplastics: the nurdles, which is raw plastic before it’s processed into issues.
They are transported in beads and sometimes people appear off ships. Anyone going to the beach this summer season will unquestionably place them together the superior tide line. And then just bottles, packaging and things having washed up.
What is the worst sea you’ve seen for pollution?
Senegal, off the west coast of Africa. I was there for a competition and literally each individual paddle stroke I did, I was bringing out handfuls of plastic every time.
If one thing floats past me below, I’ll pop it in my wetsuit and dispose of it at home. But there is just so considerably comfortable plastics, these kinds of as wrappers and carrier baggage, there. The existing will take it down and collects close to that space.
Also in the Maldives, you’d go on to this picture-fantastic remote little island and the total shoreline was just plastic bottles and shoes. I want to demonstrate persons what I see to make most people do their minimal bit.
It is easy in metropolitan areas and towns to assume all the rubbish is taken away so people today never see that establish up – or the heartbreaking effects it has on the animals.
Where’s the strangest place you invested the night time?
I broke down on my way to a opposition early this yr on the really hard shoulder of the M5, so was in a dry robe in the rain for the vast majority of the evening. I have a minimal van, which I choose on surfing missions from time to time.
A lot of places I vacation to for browsing are pretty distant so it’s generally tremendous-essential accommodation or household stays. There is anything so attractive about being a minimal bit out in the sticks.
Do you have a tale to share?
Get in contact by emailing [email protected] isles.
A lot more : Pro surfer on how NIVEA is supporting to minimize plastic pollution in the ocean
A lot more : A 48-hour itinerary for enduring the genuine Algarve – with out a golfing club in sight
Extra : The best 50 shorelines in the world to visit this year
