29th Aug – 5th Sept 2026, Oban – Ardrossan, £895
Learning about marine life is one of the cornerstones of Sail Britain’s mission and this week gives you the opportunity to explore the wonders of ocean life first hand. Our sailing area this week is home to some inspiring community-led ocean conservation projects which showcase how the underwater world can bounce back if it’s given the right protection, and where there are dedicated people actively restoring its ecology. We will visit some important marine habitats and projects during the week, while enjoying some great sailing among the islands.
Open to all, this week will give us the opportunity to explore different habitats and marine environments. Each night we’ll stop at a different location, giving us plenty of chances to go ashore too. We will aim to visit the seagrass meadows in Loch Craignish, a wonderful community-led success story for a very important marine ecosystem, and the pioneering Marine Protected Area at Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran and the COAST visitor centre there.
Despite the success of these initiatives, they represent small areas, and wider marine habitats and the many creatures which call them home are under threat. Climate change, plastic pollution and overfishing are some of the main factors affecting life at sea. On this trip we will also be learning about and witnessing these issues first hand and discussing how we might be able to take positive action to help bring the seas back into good health. We will also have an opportunity to deploy Merlin’s plankton net, microscopes and hydrophones to gain an insight into the marine life not visible to the naked eye.
The voyage will allow us to see the richness of the seas and hopefully inspire us to share our stories when we return to shore.
About our Trip Leader
This week will be hosted by Linn van der Zanden, returning to Merlin to lead snorkelling sessions in the various conservation sites of the trip. Linn is a local SUP & Snorkel guide, ocean campaigner and ambassador for ocean charities. She is passionate about ocean protection in Scotland, citizen science and connecting people to nature.
Practical information:
- Start point – Oban (The crew will send details with exactly where to find Merlin on the day of arrival)
- Start time – Saturday 29th August, 3pm
- End point – Ardrossan
- End time – Saturday 5th September, 10am
What’s included:
- Fully equipped yacht and professional crew
- 7 nights accommodation onboard
- All meals for the week
- All safety equipment and training
What’s not included
- Your travel to and from the start/end points of the voyage
- Travel insurance
- Any expenses ashore, although these tend to be very limited out in the wilds!
For more info have a look at our FAQs page for an insight into life onboard
