For many people living in mainland societies, island life represents a unique picture of peaceful seclusion, freedom, and the romance of a rural idyll; yet throughout history the reality of island existence is one of hardship, deprivation and toil – the need to be self sufficient within the confines of limited land and scarce resources.… More ‘Islandness’ – What isolation can teach us about sustainability
Fishing is known to be one of the most dangerous jobs around, and on the penultimate day of our 2018 programme, we saw this with our own eyes. It was a beautiful day. Force 4 from the South as ‘Alcuin’ set sail from the Isle of Colonsay, riding the tide through the Sound of Islay… More Rescue at Sea
Here is Rachel Yalisove’s post sail take on our Royal College of Art residency in humourous prose Image: Carol Wilhide Justin, Woodcut 2017 Ready to tack? I bet you know that phrase all too well. But now it’s more like, ready to tack a to-do list on your bulletin at work? Yes, sailing has come… More Your Sailboat Journey: Post Sail Remarks
A guest post of humourous prose from Rachel Yalisove I’m sure there’s no need, but just as a reminder, you’re sitting on a boat deck right now. Not any boat, but one that sails. Imagine that, clean energy transport, who knew? I mean if we spilled some oil, we’d get a lot more press, but… More Your Sailboat Journey: Introductory Remarks
Sail Britain and a scientific team from the University of Exeter are conducting what we believe is the first study into the presence of microplastics in the inland freshwater environment of the Norfolk Broads. Microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment is one of the biggest environmental challenges out there. Microplastics are tiny particles, generally less… More Microplastics research on the Norfolk Broads
“How do you bring the underwater world alive for young children?” That was the challenge we faced when Karen Goonewardene and I were planning a creative workshop for the children of St Paul’s Steiner School in Islington, North London, as part of the community outreach side of the Sail Britain Coastline Project. Karen is a… More How do you teach kids about marine noise pollution?
In a few weeks, I will be boarding an evening train out of London for a one hour journey to the edge of somewhere remote. Somewhere untouched by the fast pace of modern civilisation and at the same time a place which directly facilitates it. The creeks and backwaters of the Suffolk coast hold a… More Secret East Coast
A voyage like the Sail Britain Coastline Project places interesting demands on the boat which will make it all possible. My first principle is that SBCP should have a boat of its own, rather than relying on chartering or borrowing boats from other people or organisations. If people are going to sign up for something… More Musings on boats
Earlier in the year, my friend Elsa Hammond (author, editor and ocean rower) suggested I go the the Explore conference at the Royal Geographical Society. Explore brings together adventurers, environmentalists, scientists, those who love the great outdoors, and for the first time this year, artists, for an annual weekend of inspiration, expedition planning and networking,… More Inspiration and Encouragement – Explore Conference at the RGS
‘Landsickness’ a group of 8+1 Haiku inspired by a weekend sailing on the Norfolk Broads with Oliver Beardon and friends. a red weather face moving still with boat motion of reeds and ripples cod oil and sea paint autumn light on brown sailed unfamiliar the bent black shag sits wind channels our land sadness a white… More Jeremy Hunt – ‘Landsickness’, 8+1 Sailing Haiku