Intersection of Science, Yachting and Exploration
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
At ‘A Day of Exploration’ in Monaco on March 24, 2026 — hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco in partnership with The Explorers Club — the room was filled with extraordinary perspectives. From ocean conservation to space exploration, the shared thread was clear: understanding our world is key to protecting it.
Amid voices like world-renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle and Arctic explorer (and friend!) Andreas B Heide, what stood out to us at Free Range Ocean was the emphasis on something deeply practical — how people can actually take part.
A heartfelt thank you to Emily Cunningham MBE for including the Free Range Ocean Citizen Science Directory in her presentation during the Captains' Forum (Watch the presentation below).
Emily’s work consistently bridges awareness and action, and in Monaco she showed exactly how boaters and ocean users can meaningfully contribute to science — no lab coat required.
Alongside this, it was inspiring to see other tangible pathways highlighted, including the work of the International SeaKeepers Society. As part of the SeaKeepers Discovery Yacht Programme, Freeranger actively participates in several of their citizen science initiatives — a reminder that these opportunities are not only accessible, but already being integrated into real cruising life.
We’re equally grateful to Maiwenn Beadle, the pioneering “Ice Queen” of the Arctic and the first woman to captain a superyacht through the Northwest Passage, for bringing this conversation into the room. Her leadership in shaping the session — and championing Free Range Ocean’s involvement — made this moment possible.
Larissa is a member of The Explorers Club, so it was especially meaningful to see this connection between exploration and participation so clearly expressed and although we couldn't be there in person this time, we surely will next!
Because while exploration often celebrates the extraordinary, the future of ocean understanding depends on something more collective: many people, doing small things, consistently.
Thank you, Emily and Maiwenn, for helping show that everyone has a role to play — and that the most powerful discoveries often begin with simply paying attention.
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