As a family sailing around the world, we wanted the Free Range Ocean directory to spotlight projects kids can do alongside parents or in class.   Use the Family Friendly  filter in our Ocean Citizen Science Project Directory  to discover even more ideas that match your route, region, or school topic. Sea Turtle Spotter (Upwell) Turtle on the bow? Log it! Sea Turtle Spotter invites families to record sightings (usually via iNaturalist or a simple form) to help researchers map movements, foraging areas, and habitat conditions over time. It’s an easy “see it, snap it, submit it” activity that turns curious kids into ocean detectives. Learn more in our directory:   https://www.freerangeocean.org/projects/sea-turtle-spotter   Free Range Ocean “See a turtle, snap a photo, log the location — tiny moments add up to big insights.” CoastSnap Beach day with a mission. Pop your phone into a fixed photo-point cradle  at a CoastSnap station, take a shoreline photo, and upload it. Thousands of repeat snapshots let scientists track beach change, erosion and storm impacts with surprising accuracy — a brilliant hands-on lesson in coastal science. Learn more in our directory:   https://www.freerangeocean.org/projects/coastsnap   Free Range Ocean “One quick photo, real coastal science — perfect for curious kids (and data-loving parents).” Marine Debris Tracker Turn a beach walk or dinghy ride into a clean-up + data mission. With the Debris Tracker app, families log each item they collect (caps, wrappers, fishing floats), feeding an open dataset used by educators and researchers. You’ll see your tally grow and spark great conversations about upstream solutions. Learn more in our directory:   https://www.freerangeocean.org/projects/marine-debris-tracker   Free Range Ocean The Big Seaweed Search If you’re in the UK, this “shore safari” gets kids looking closely at life between the tides. Choose a short stretch of coast, photograph and record target seaweed species, then submit your finds. Data helps track climate-linked changes, invasive species and ocean-acidification impacts — with clear ID guides to keep it fun. Learn more in our directory:   https://www.freerangeocean.org/projects/the-big-seaweed-search   Free Range Ocean ORCA OceanWatcher For cetacean-mad youngsters, ORCA pairs short online training with a simple app so you can log whale and dolphin sightings from shore, ferries or your own boat. Your observations help inform conservation work and protected-area planning across UK and European waters. Learn more in our directory:   https://www.freerangeocean.org/projects/orca-oceanwatcher   Free Range Ocean Project Typical time Where it works What you need Good to know Sea Turtle Spotter 5–10 mins per sighting Beaches, dinghy, at sea Smartphone & camera Check local wildlife-interaction rules; use zoom, no chasing. Free Range Ocean CoastSnap 2–3 mins at a station At CoastSnap photo points Smartphone Some beaches have multiple cradles — repeat over seasons. Free Range Ocean Marine Debris Tracker 10–30 mins per clean-up Shores, parks, marinas, decks Smartphone; bag & gloves Great for class challenges or marina clean-ups. Free Range Ocean The Big Seaweed Search 30–60 mins UK shoreline Phone/camera; ID sheet Choose a short transect; photograph target species. Free Range Ocean ORCA OceanWatcher 5–20 mins per watch Shoreline, ferries, private boats Training + app Short training recommended before first survey. Free Range Ocean Availability can change by season or location — check each directory page for current status and links to the organiser. Ready to get involved? Browse the full Ocean Citizen Science Project Directory , toggle Family Friendly , and pick a project that fits your next beach day, passage, or school activity. Free Range Ocean Know an ocean citizen science project we've missed out? Please tell us so we can get it added to the directory!

Freeranger in Maupihaʻa an atoll in the Leeward group of the Society Islands In June 2025 French Polynesia unveiled an ambitious and far-reaching marine conservation initiative at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. President Moetai Brotherson announced plans to designate the entirety of French Polynesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – 4.8 million km² - as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), establishing the largest protected area in the world. This bold move reflects the region’s commitment to safeguarding its marine heritage, while aligning with global conservation goals. Within this huge area, 1.1 million km² will receive even more stringent protection under IUCN categories I and II—areas allowing only traditional activities and scientific pursuits. These include two core zones: 220,000 km² around the Society Islands and 680,000 km² near the Gambier Islands, where no extractive activities, such as industrial fishing or deep-sea mining, will be permitted. Additional zones for small-scale, artisanal fishing—limited to traditional pole-and-line methods from small vessels—will support cultural practices while maintaining ecosystem integrity. This incredible initiative not only elevates French Polynesia as a leader in ocean conservation but also underscores the power of local leadership, science, and ancestral knowledge working in concert. It sets a globally significant example, particularly for Small Island Developing States. The establishment of the MPA also blends modern governance with Indigenous stewardship. Brotherson emphasized that Polynesians have long managed these waters using ancestral knowledge. Surveys show overwhelming public backing: 92% of residents support marine protection. Eden snorkels with reef sharks in Fakarava's South Pass (Passe Tumakohua) - a famous diving location in French Polynesia , known for its "wall of sharks" where hundreds of grey reef sharks gather in the incoming current, offering an unforgettable experience for divers. This narrow, remote pass at the southern end of the atoll provides a spectacular display of marine life, including other shark species, Napoleon wrasses , and colorful reef fish, all within the protection of an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . Key Features: -          World’s largest marine protected area – Covers almost 5 million km² of French Polynesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. -          Highly protected core zones – 1.1 million km² under IUCN category I–II protection, banning all extractive activities. -          Cultural and ecological balance – Allows only traditional, small-scale fishing in designated areas using artisanal methods. -          Global conservation leadership – Positions French Polynesia as a model for ocean governance and protection rooted in local and ancestral knowledge. When we visited: April – July 2025 Swimming with manta rays was a dream come true for our crew - Maupiti Island was a perfect place to experience their underwater world as these majestic fish gather in large numbers in the lagoon around a “cleaning station” where they get cleaned by small fish. Reflections: Many boaters feel that French Polynesia is up there with the very best places in the world to visit, to cruise, and to dive. Our three months there from April to July 2025 completely blew us away. In the  Gambier Islands we saw some of the healthiest and most beautiful coral we have seen anywhere in the world, a true coral garden. The Tuamotus were another world again, with the many species and sheer abundance of sharks being the highlight. In the Society Islands, the corals are less happy, but the manta rays in particular were a highlight, and the islands themselves are just breathtaking. Of the many initiatives that are ongoing, a particular one focusses on ensuring vessels have a minimum impact on the bottom – mooring buoys are becoming more common, and are often mandatory, and in other locations boaters are encouraged to ‘float’ their anchor chains to ensure they don’t drag over and destroy coral heads. We applaud the French Polynesia government for the Marine Protected Area announcement to further protect this beautiful region. X marks the spot - the crew of Freeranger in a moment of solitude in paradise Some Citizen Science Projects in the Ocean Directory that you can participate in: French Polynesia Manta Project Happywhale Sea Turtle Spotter Allen Coral Atlas   If you know of any other citizen science initiatives in French Polynesia we should include in the Directory please get in touch and let us know!

Key Features:   Vast scale and pristine ecosystems –  covers 834,000 km² of ocean, protecting some of the planet’s clearest waters, extensive coral reefs, and deep-sea habitats largely untouched by industrial activity.  Extraordinary biodiversity – Home to over 1,200 known species, including many endemic fish, migratory whales, sea turtles, and rare deep-sea organisms.  Strict protection measures – Enforced “no-take” zone prohibits all commercial fishing and extractive activities, allowing only limited, sustainable fishing for local use.  Strong community led citizen science - islanders contribute valuable observations by recording wildlife sightings, monitoring fish stocks, and noting environmental changes  When we visited: April 2025  Overview:  The Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, one of the world’s largest protected ocean areas, is fascinating. It surrounds the four remote islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno in the South Pacific. In the early 2010s, local residents, conservation organizations, and the UK government began exploring ways to safeguard the area’s remarkably intact marine environment. After the 50 residents unanimously voted for the marine reserve, in March 2015, the United Kingdom officially designated the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, protecting roughly 834,000 square kilometres (322,000 square miles) of ocean.  The reserve’s creation was strongly supported by the Pitcairn islanders, whose small population of around 50 people relies on the surrounding waters for both subsistence fishing and cultural identity. Recognizing that their isolation offered a rare opportunity to preserve a nearly untouched ocean ecosystem, they agreed to strict protections that ban large-scale commercial fishing. This local commitment ensured the reserve would safeguard biodiversity while allowing limited, sustainable fishing for community needs. International partners, such as the Pew Charitable Trusts, contributed research and advocacy, while the UK government provided legislative authority and enforcement systems, including satellite-based vessel monitoring.  Key features of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve include some of the world’s clearest waters, extensive coral reefs, and seamount ecosystems that harbor over 1,200 known species, many found nowhere else. Its isolation has spared it from the impacts of industrial fishing and heavy pollution, making it a living laboratory for ocean health. Strict no-take rules preserve its rich biodiversity, from migrating whales and turtles to vibrant reef fish and rare deep-sea life. Today, the reserve stands as both a testament to small-island stewardship and a global model for large-scale, community-engaged marine conservation.  The success of an MPA rests on the shoulders of a local community. Citizen and community science was an important feature in both the creation of and ongoing stewardship of the reserve. Given the difficulty and cost of frequent scientific expeditions, islanders contribute valuable observations by recording wildlife sightings, monitoring fish stocks, and noting environmental changes in everyday life and via dedicated expeditions. Some use simple tools like logbooks, cameras, and even smartphone apps to document their findings, providing year-round data between formal research visits. This blend of traditional ecological knowledge and modern technology ensures that local experience feeds directly into global conservation efforts.  When ordinary citizens, as opposed to only brilliant scientists, are given the opportunity to participate in studies, and are encouraged to conduct some aspect of research by themselves, the change in ones outlook towards scientific research creates an infectious positive attitude among community members. Reflections:   Very once in a while, you get to make a lifelong dream come true.   I (Duncan) was 8 years old when the film Mutiny on the Bounty came out, starring a very young Mel Gibson and a slightly less young Anthony Hopkins. I didn’t know or care anything about the actors, but I can remember being gripped by the story of discovery and adventure, and of the idea of an island so remote, that no one could find you. In the following years as a ‘boat kid’ growing up onboard, and into adulthood, I had and continue to have a huge interest in historical naval novels, including anything and everything to do with the Bounty, and Pitcairn Island where the British mutineers and their Tahitian companions went to hide, and where their descendants continue to live to this day.  In adulthood, the Pitcairn Island group crossed into my radar in a very different way. My career focus has been on ocean conservation and particularly working on the issue of  illegal fishing, including the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). While most of my work has taken place in other regions of the world, in the early 2010’s I was for a short time on a working group that eventually led to the establishment of the UK’s Blue Belt Programme, set up to manage the huge areas of ocean that surround the  generally small and outflung British islands around the world, including in the Pacific.    Here also my interest crossed with Larissa’s, who has worked on a couple of projects that have focussed on the terrible plastic pollution that washes up on these remote islands, particularly Henderson. Despite its location far from any major population, Henderson Island has been billed the ‘most polluted place on earth’ - conservative estimates suggest that 3,500 to 13,500 new plastic items wash up on Henderson every day.   So, as we planned this ocean adventure that we’re on, a visit to the Pitcairn Islands was high on our list. In April, after a 3400 nautical mile crossing from Mexico (see our trip report here !) we made landfall on Henderson Island, staying for 2 days before the weather pushed us out and on to Pitcairn Island itself, where we managed to stay for 3 more, very bouncy days.   Henderson was wonderful, and heartbreaking. To land after a Pacific crossing at a truly remote and uninhabited Pacific islands was a privilege, and the unique vegetation and birdlife was incredible. However the plastic pollution is truly awful, and everywhere along the shoreline. Some of it had obviously been at sea for a long time, some looked very new. Fishing gear made up a large proportion of it, but we found everything from toys to shoes, plastic bags to bottles. Heartbreaking.  Pitcairn is truly the most welcoming place we have ever visited. That said, the anchorages are awful, and the landing frankly crazy. But once ashore, we have never felt more welcomed, or been somewhere that felt more peaceful than this island and it’s community - only 27 islanders were home at the time. To be able to explore Pitcairn and its history in person was just wonderful, and to learn more about this community, their lives, and their pride in their islands and the marine reserve was humbling - with special thanks to Bren, Simon, Miss T and all those who made our visit so special. A truly once in a life time experience. Examples of Citizen Science Projects in the Ocean Directory that you can get involved in:  Marine Debris Tracker   iNaturalist   Invasive Species in Pitcairn Islands   Other useful information:  If you're planning to visit Pitcairn Island by yacht be sure to read the Biosecurity leaflet about how to minimise your impact on the local environment and report any invasive species you see while visiting the island group - see it here.

As we sail further into the Pacific aboard Freeranger , our next upcoming stop is American Samoa - a place where traditional stewardship and modern science seem to intersect. The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa represents one of the most biodiverse marine protected areas in the U.S. characterised by ancient coral, rich fish diversity, humpback whales, endangered hawksbill sea turtles, giant clams and rare seabirds. The sanctuary safeguards vast coral reef systems—home to some of the planet’s oldest and largest Porites coral formations—alongside deep-sea reefs, hydrothermal vent ecosystems, and unique underwater archaeological sites. Ahead of arrival we've been learning how community participation isn't just encouraged—it’s essential to caring for the reefs, forests, and oceans that support island life. It will be exciting to see how this region blends cultural heritage with action-driven conservation. Here are some of the initiatives we found interesting to learn more about. 🌿 Community-led Marine Protection: Village Marine Protected Areas (VMPAs) Since 2000, American Samoa's Community-Based Fisheries Program (CFMP)  has empowered villages like Fagamalo  and Masausi  to design and enforce their own marine protection policies. These Village Marine Protected Areas (VMPAs)  now cover around 25% of the territory’s coral reef area (learn more here ) . These efforts are rooted in community culture and enforceable through local authority and government support as of 2008 (learn more here ) . 🐠 Coral & Water-Quality Monitoring: Training Local Citizen Scientists The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program  (NCRMP), managed by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, works closely with the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) and the Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG). Together, they've trained local residents—fisherfolk, students, tourism guides—to conduct snorkeling surveys , water sampling , and reef health assessments  using standardized protocols like the Rapid Ecological Assessment method (learn more here ). Capacity-building in this way ensures scientific skills are held locally and data collected informs reef management and restoration plans. 🤖 Education & Outreach: Inspiring Youth Through STEM and Citizen Projects The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa  has run a range of educational outreach programs, including “Sanctuary Summer Science in the Village” , ROV-building workshops, and underwater robotics competitions for high schoolers in the past (more here ). Camps and ongoing programs at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center  (which sadly looks to be temporarily closed for renovations until August 2025 - maybe we'll get lucky and it'll open while we are there!) help bridge traditional culture with marine science and hands-on experience for young islanders. ✅ Why This Matters: The Power of Citizen Science Theme Description Local Ownership Data collection and sanctuary designation are driven by village communities. Capacity Building Training potable to empower local scientists ensures longevity of projects. Youth Connections Education, STEM, and hands-on experiences build the next generation of stewards. Policy Support Data guides coral reef legislation, fisheries management, and public awareness.  📍 Next Stop: American Samoa At Free Range Ocean , we try to fuel our voyage aboard Freeranger by curiosity, storytelling, and meaningful engagement. Although we only expect to be in American Samoa for a few days we look forward to: Learning more and participating in reef monitoring or water sampling efforts where invited Support and share the work of local conservation leaders Document and broadcast what we learn aboard Freeranger Promote involvement via our Citizen Science Directory We’re arriving with open minds, notebooks ready, and a mindset aligned with the guardians of these islands. If you or your community in American Samoa are engaging in conservation or citizen science, we’d love to connect. Reach out via our Instagram [@freerangeocean] or email hello@freerangeocean.org Until landfall—fair winds and purposeful sails! 🌏🌊 Larissa, Duncan, Eden and Skye --- p.s. We love the NOAA poster below which features an ava bowl used for ceremonial practices, a Samoan fale (house) found in villages, and fautasi or long boat canoe. Underwater, tropical coral gardens teem with marine life, including iconic humphead wrasses, endangered hawksbill sea turtles, giant clams, massive Porites corals, and colorful parrotfish, while an oceanic whitetip shark and yellowfin tuna swim near the reef edge. Illustration by Matt McIntosh/NOAA Full PDF: https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries-prod/media/posters/2022-national-marine-sanctuary-american-samoa-poster.pdf References Community-Based Fisheries Program and VMPAs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masausi%2C_American_Samoa  & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagamalo%2C_American_Samoa NOAA Reef Monitoring Program training: https://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/news/featuredstories/mar25/amersamoa-wq.html NCRMP Socioeconomic monitoring details: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/socioeconomic_AS.html Sanctuary education & ROV programs: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/jan20/2019-education-outreach-highlights.html ASCC QUEST programme: https://www.crag.as/education-outreach National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Marine_Sanctuary_of_American_Samoa Rose Atoll biodiversity details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Atoll National Park of American Samoa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_of_American_Samoa

We are honoured to share that Free Range Ocean  has once again been endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development  — better known as the Ocean Decade  — for another year July 2025 - 2026! Since our initial endorsement and the launch of our voyage, we've been blown away by the momentum and support we've received. Over the past year, we’ve added many more incredible projects to our citizen science directory , creating even more opportunities for boaters, sailors, and coastal communities to get involved in meaningful ocean action. The Ocean Decade’s vision is "The science we need for the ocean we want" , and we’re proud to be contributing to that goal through our unique mix of adventure sailing, citizen science, and storytelling . As a quick reminder, our work at sea focuses on three key areas: A Journey with Purpose - Contributing to, and enabling other boaters and sea-going folk to contribute to the smorgasbord of ocean citizen science and community projects that urgently need support and volunteers, including the establishment and expansion of the first global citizen science  Directory  dedicated to ocean projects. Adventure Science & Storytelling - Advancing knowledge and understanding of our global ocean by hosting local initiatives, early-career researchers and storytellers on board FREERANGER in the countries we visit.    Outreach and Innovation - Using FREERANGER as a platform for outreach and innovation, and as a testbed for innovative research-based or green-operational maritime technologies, from the simple solutions to the high-tech Our mission remains clear: to inform, inspire, and enable others to make their own positive impact on our ocean  — guided by the belief that everyone, and every action, counts. Explore the Citizen Science Directory here  – it's growing fast! Got a project we should know about? Send it our way so we can include it. A huge thank you to everyone who continues to help us bring this journey to life. With gratitude, Larissa, Duncan, Eden, and Skye

On Tuesday 10 June at 09:00 CEST (France time) join us on our Instagram channel for a 30 minute LIVE session co-hosted with #GenOcean and UN Ocean Decade to talk sailing and citizen science. We'll be on our boat, Freeranger, in the South Pacific while our friends and colleagues at UNESCO will be at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. Tune in to listen or join in with Q&A! https://www.instagram.com/thefreerangecrew/?hl=en

On the 27 February 2025 we were excited to be hosted by the Ocean in Purgatory Project  and Marina Riviera Nayarit  at La Cruz for a Free Range Ocean Journey with Purpose  event. These events are designed to engage with both the boating community and local stakeholders on the opportunities, realities and fun of citizen science. La Cruz in February is a hub of boating activities. Boats are preparing to go in three directions – north to spend the hurricane season in the Sea of Cortez, south towards Central America, or across the Pacific to Polynesia. La Cruz also sits within the Bahia Banderas, an ecological hotspot and home to some excellent local ocean science and conservation initiatives – crucial as the region sees continued rapid expansion of tourist numbers and infrastructure. As such it was the perfect location for the event, and the facilities at the Marina Riviera Nayarit clubhouse were just excellent. Mike from the Ocean in Purgatory Project and PV Sailing was an excellent host, and gave an impassioned introduction on the important role at that boaters play as ocean citizens. During our talk, we presented the Free Range Ocean Directory of Citizen Science  projects and talked through some of the many projects that are listed there, focussing on those most relevant to boats going north, south and into the Pacific. We brought along some of the equipment that we have on board – some provided by the citizen science projects themselves, some we've easily made ourselves – and talked through our experiences of deployment from our boat. The audience was incredible, and – always our favourite! – had many practical questions about the realities of taking part in projects from their boats. We shared our experiences of our trial and errors when getting started on new projects - you don't always get it right the first time but it's always fun. Representatives from a couple of local initiatives also spoke about their projects and experiences, re-enforcing what an important role boaters can play in terms of managing their own impact on local waters and wildlife, and assisting local conservation efforts. Our thanks to all who took part, and the excellent hosting by the Ocean in Purgatory Project and Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz!

After a few weeks of intense preparation based in La Cruz in the Bahia Banderas, we set off in mid-March on our Pacific crossing, a 3940 nautical mile (7,296 km) passage between Punta Mita, Mexico and the Gambiers Islands in French Polynesia. On the way we managed to stop in for visits at the marine protected area at the stark but beautiful Isla Socorro; the remote and uninhabited and beautiful Henderson Island, stunning except for the very present plastic pollution; and the historic and incredibly welcoming Pitcairn Island. Henderson and Pitcairn sit in the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, one of the largest on Earth. Larissa, Duncan, Eden and Skye arrive at Henderson Island after a 2468nm passage from Mexico. We arrived in the Gambiers, home of some of the healthiest coral reefs we have ever seen, in late April. Our longest time at sea was 22 days between Socorro and Hendersen, a distance of 3468 nautical miles (6422 km), most of it on the high seas. During the offshore passage we contributed to half a dozen citizen science initiatives with the intention of supporting multi-institutional researchers with ground-truthing, observations, and data collection. These took place on the high seas, beyond national waters. FREERANGER on the north west corner of Henderson Island However, as we were particularly excited to visit the Pitcairn Islands and their marine reserve, we wanted to engage with the Pitcairn community to ensure any projects that we conducted had permissions and were as useful as possible to the protected area. We had great engagement with the Pitcairn Island Governor and Island Council ahead of time, and a truly wonderful welcome once we reached the islands. While it is always fun, conducting citizen science projects at sea on a big ocean crossing presented some interesting challenges and experiences! Here’s a breakdown of the projects we took part in, what went right, and – also great for learning – what went wrong! Plankton and Plastic Sampling We were really looking forward to taking part in the Neuston Net Research Collective , which unites the academic world and the international boating community in an effort to conserve and understand our oceans through scientific research. The collective spans a wide range of research topics with one common theme: they all utilise Neuston Nets which are fine mesh nets often towed behind boats to collect samples of neustonic organisms, algae, plastics, plankton, seawater, and more. Unique access to these nets allows the folk at The International SeaKeepers Society  to pair proposed or ongoing projects with vessels around the world to collect samples from a wide geographic range. We were partnered to contribute to a project by Dr Rebecca Helm  who studies neustonic organisms in remote gyres and garbage patches and whose findings help shape new Marine Protected Areas and high seas policy. Duncan was slightly less excited when the net itself arrived in the mail, as on first sight it felt like a huge bit of kit to have on board our relatively small boat! However once we had found a good spot for it, and coupled with the comprehensive onboard kits which allow boaters to conduct plankton survey-style transects, we were ready to go. For our net deployments, we were concentrating only on areas in the high seas – i.e. beyond any country boundaries, which meant not requiring any specific permits. Our first deployments were near the equator, and second as we approached but well outside the boundary of the Pitcairn Islands, which also demarks the edge of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, one of the largest in the world. A particular challenge on the days we’d planned for science was that the Nueston Nets need to be towed at speeds less than 2 knots, which is surprisingly difficult to achieve at sea (we hear that new versions of these nets are in development to be able to deploy at faster speeds). We took advantage of the two calm days we had on passage to deploy the Nueston Net, but even so we had to lower sails and turn on the motor to achieve the slow speeds. We soon figured out a good towing configuration, and also learned quickly that the whole crew needed to be aware it was science-time so nothing ‘like’ food scraps could go over the side – the net caught everything! Once the net was back on board though the real fun began. It was absolutely fascinating to see just the numbers and diversity of small sea creatures in each sample, from the highly active Copepods to tiny fish, and even a Halobate, the only marine insect! Happy hours were spent looking at this incredible life with our magnifying glasses and recording it in spreadsheets. Less happy to see was that every sample we collected contained evidence of microplastics. Now we have reached shore, we are preparing to submit our report and many photos to Seakeepers. We were also very excited to take part once again in the Global Ocean Environment Survey  (GOES) project, which seeks to better understand the more than  60% of global biomass that is made up of tiny animals and plants less than 1mm! These are the life support of the planet and are at a critical tipping point due to ocean pollution and acidification which has already reduced numbers to 50%. The project involves setting up a simple mini lab on board to collect and filter water samples for tiny particles and plankton twice a day, providing crucial data. When Freeranger came up from New Zealand to Canada in 2o23 we collected and analysed 500 samples! Due to weather conditions and the shorter passage we were not able to take as many samples this time, but several collections were made and analyzed, and will now be submitted to the GOES project to add to their database. Photos: filter deployment, looking at the microscope Since we set off from Canada in July 2024, one of the two citizen science projects that have been a consistent in our lives has been the Secchi Disk Study , public science project measures the amount of phytoplankton - minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain - currently residing in the world’s oceans. To check the levels of phytoplankton in our ocean, they've developed a simple piece of equipment that you can order or make yourself and a free smart phone app for sailors and fishermen to use wherever they are in the world. The measurements are then entered into an easy to use app that the kids love. Secchi disk being deployed on FREERANGER previously in BC We were excited to do Secchi readings in the deep ocean, but enthusiasm and sea conditions did not align as much as we had hoped! Like the Nueston Net, Secchi disk deployment needs the boat to be slowed right down, and essentially at a stop, otherwise the disc flows away from the boat and you don’t get an accurate reading. This was very hard to do in our sea conditions, both in terms of momentum of the boat and due to up and down wave action. This latter also proved to put huge strain on the measuring tape of the Secchi, and unfortunately at one point overwelmed it, snapping so we lost a disk. Lesson learned, we have now made a more robust measurement tape using a thin line marked at 10cm intervals for deployment in more challenging conditions. Seabed Mapping While much of the journey was way beyond the reach of our depth sounder, whenever we reached one of our island destinations we continued to contribute to the Seabed2030  initiative, which allows boaters to increase global knowledge of the ocean by sharing depth measurements from our navigational instruments. The project is a collaboration between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), Seabed 2030 seeks to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030, and to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. Wildlife Reporting Throughout the passage our paths crossed with seabirds and sealife of all description. We dodged humpback whales as we left the coast of Mexico, snorkelled with very curious sharks in Socorro, and frequently had visits from boobies, many of whom tried to land on the boat – wonderful in the moment but you are not always so happy with what they leave behind! One day we crossed paths with a pod of pilot whales moving at a furious pace in the opposite direction, another we were accompanied by an albatross who was only too happy to snap up the flying fish that daily were appearing on our deck. In other parts of the ocean it went very quiet, and days would go by without seeing any wildlife at all, save an occasional glimpse of a petrel, those tiny wanderers of the seas. Throughout however we took notes of what we saw, and reported them into relevant projects. We have recently been enrolled in two courses to increase our knowledge and confidence as whale and dolphin spotters with the ORCA Oceanwatch  project, which started collecting data on cetaceans in the North Atlantic but now works globally. For turtle sightings, we are working with the Ocean Ecology Network’s  Marine Turtles project to collect data including sighting locations, species, size, and entanglements (luckily we have not seen one of these so far, but we have seen a shocking amount of discarded fishing gear, especially on Henderson Island). We’re now in French Polynesia, and all crew feeling happy and refreshed after what was a fast but often bumpy and wet passage. It’s absolutely beautiful, especially the diving, and we’re looking forward to time with friends and meeting new people in the boating and local communities here! We’ll be doing some more of our on-board citizen science engagement events in the coming weeks, stay tuned! Duncan & Larissa

Since arriving to the pacific coast of Mexico in the new year we’ve met dozens of new boats and their crews. Some have come down from North America this season, some have been here for several seasons, and a few intrepid crews have made their way here from Central America or the Pacific. As always it’s been an absolute pleasure to meet boaters of all types and from all walks of life, whose motivations for living at sea vary but who all share a clear love of the boating life. We’ve had some great opportunities to engage the Mexico sailing community with the Citizen Science Directory, and demonstrate projects that we are taking part in. On our way south from the US, we took part in the Baja Ha-ha  sailing rally with nearly 100 other sailboats, and were able to share information with the fleet via radio and email, as well as directly in our stops down the Baja peninsular. We continue to run into and spend time with many of the boats that took part in this fun event, especially the kid boats! One of the main ways that boaters communicate and share information here in Mexico is through daily radio ‘nets’, check-ins that generally happen in the morning on VHF. These are very local in nature, and you jump from net to net as you move down the coast. They are absolutely invaluable as an information source on everything in that particular location, from where to find a mechanic to where you can get the best street tacos, and also serve as an important safety network. We’ve had a great time engaging with these radio nets up and down the coast, sharing information the Directory and projects, and what projects we might be doing that day that others can join. The last part of a daily net invariably opens the floor for trivia and jokes, and sharing a short Free Range Ocean trivia  on ocean subjects large and small has become a staple of our mornings. Local cruisers clubs also provide an excellent chance to meet and engage with other boaters, and we have been so grateful for the warm welcome, the invite to do short talks, and the opportunity to leave communications materials for future visitors. Club Cruceros de La Paz  in particular was wonderful to visit, and we highly recommend visiting this excellent local cruising club and its morning coffee sessions to all boats who go into La Paz in Mexico. We've also been hosting some educational outreach events aboard Freeranger inviting our boat neighbours aboard to learn about projects we - and they! - can participate in during their cruising.   Over the past weeks we’ve hosted on board daily sessions of the Secchi Disk Study , a citizen science project established to help researchers understand the impact of climate change on phytoplankton. To check the levels of phytoplankton in our ocean, the project has developed a simple piece of equipment that you can order or make yourself and a free smart phone app for sailors and fishermen to use wherever they are in the world. We have been inviting cruisers daily to come aboard and take part in the readings, and learn more about phytoplankton. These sessions have just happened to coincide with a large bloom of plankton in our bay. At first this was met with grumbles from the fleet (about 30 boats), as it was clogging up everyone’s water maker filters! However over time we have seen the power of experiential education in action and real engagement and positive change in attitude to the conditions, as we all learned more about plankton, and had some spectacular nighttime swims in the bioluminescence. The daily Secchi reading became a key part of the morning net, as people both want to know for the science, and whether to run their water makers! It also explained why a humpback whale kept coming into the bay and cruising around the boats at anchor! As we enter our last few weeks in Mexico we’ll spend some time in Bahia Banderas, getting ready for the Pacific crossing in May. There’s both a very active net and a boat kids club here, and we’ll be working with both share and demonstrate various citizen science projects that boaters can do. It’s a pretty spectacular setting, with the bay currently full of very active humpback whales – each sighting of which can be reported by boaters of course!

We were thrilled to hear that the Ocean Cruising Club has awarded its Conservation Challenge Grant 2025 to Free Range Ocean towards the development of our directory of Ocean Citizen Science Projects.   This grant is the 13th to be made since 2019. A variety of challenging projects have been supported in that time, including unsupported, non-stop, singlehanded circumnavigations and several environmental maritime research projects. The 2022 UNESCO State of the Ocean report highlighted that 'scientific knowledge illuminates the way to reversing the decline in ocean health, conserving marine life, addressing ocean aspects of climate change and using the ocean sustainably to improve people’s lives.' Yet collecting data from our ocean is a vast, difficult and expensive task. One that says needs all hands-on deck to achieve. At its core, citizen science means the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. With an estimated 30 million recreational boats on the water, often in places that researchers only dream of accessing, there is plenty of people power in the boating community that could be leveraged as ‘citizen scientists’ to collect samples and analyse data that increases knowledge and understanding of our ocean and helps to pinpoint effective solutions for a healthy future. Awareness of the challenges exists, but often boaters just don’t know where or how they can contribute as projects can be hard to find. To help, we have developed an Ocean Citizen Science Project directory as a freely accessible platform that people can use to explore and discover interesting projects they can contribute their time, knowledge, energy and experience to - be it boat owners sampling seawater for plankton while sailing offshore, or families at the beach surveying for invasive species, inshore fishers reporting on kelp forests or water-tourists sharing whale photos of their sightings on their adventures. To access the Directory, please visit: www.freerangeocean.org/citizen-science-ocean-project-finder . Users can filter the projects by region, sea, topics of interest, species of interest, experience levels, times of year, participant locations (onshore, inshore, offshore, remote), and family friendly, so they can find the best project for them and participate in active citizen science projects where ever they are. Free Range Ocean is a UK registered non-profit organisation, founded in 2023 by ocean advocates OCC Member Duncan Copeland and Associate Member Larissa Clark. We run the project from our 50’ sailing vessel FREERANGER, which is currently in Mexico, six months into a multi-year world voyage which will next see them and their children Eden (8) and Skye-Elizabeth (6) depart into the Pacific for Polynesia in March 2025. Sailing and citizen science adventures. Photo aboard FREERANGER by Nikkey Dawn in the North Pacific. Beyond contributing to almost a dozen citizen science projects themselves, FREERANGER is also used as a testbed and showcase for innovative and accessible research-based or green-operational technologies, and as a platform for local early-career researchers and storytellers in the countries they visit. Free Range Ocean is an endorsed activity of the United Nations Ocean Decade of Science in 2025 and FREERANGER is an eco champion in the hall of fame for the scientist-led Discovery Yacht Programme of Seakeepers International.   Duncan and Larissa are keen to hear about any citizen science projects they may be missing that can be added to the directory. Also to hear from those who have used the directory to participate in projects themselves.    The OCC Challenge Grant scheme has two categories; the Adventure Challenge Grant and the Conservation Challenge Grant. Prior membership of the OCC is not required in order to apply. If you, or someone known to you is planning a particularly ambitious sail-exploration or is planning a similarly ambitious maritime conservation or environmental project, consider applying for an OCC Challenge Grant. Further details including eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on the OCC website . Huge THANKS to the OCC for your valuable support for our project! The OCC is the “home port” for those who have sailed long distances across big oceans. With 45 nationalities represented among more than 3300 members, and Port Officers around the world, we have a more diverse membership and a more international reach than any other blue water sailing organisation. The Ocean Cruising Club exists to encourage long-distance sailing in small boats. A Full Member of the OCC must have completed a qualifying voyage of a non-stop port-to-port ocean passage, where the distance between the two ports is not less than 1,000 nautical miles, in a vessel of not more than 70ft (21.36m) LOA; associate members are committed to achieving that goal. This standard distinguishes the OCC from all other sailing clubs. The membership as a whole has more experience offshore than any other sailing organisation – in the number of circumnavigators, in the range of extraordinary voyages members have completed, and in the number of solo sailors and female sailors among our ranks. This is what sets us apart from other organisations, even as it draws us together as a group.   Web: www.oceancruisingclub.org Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OceanCruisingClubMembers/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/oceancruisingclub/

It feels amazing that we have already been living aboard Freeranger full time for six months! When we left Victoria, BC in early July 2024 we spent the summer going up and around Vancouver Island. While Duncan had been to many parts of the island by road and sea before, none of us had done this full trip, and it was absolutely worth it. We sailed in Desolation Sound, Campbell River, Port Hardy, the Broughtons (including 'Eden Island'), Clayoquot Sound around to Ucluelet with a rounding of Cape Scott. Skye-Elizabeth on whale spotting duty! Once further north from Desolation Sound and most of the way down the west coast we often had spectacular anchorages to ourselves to enjoy the incredible marine and wildlife. A highlight were the sea otters who were curious and nonchalant in equal measure as they floated around in the kelp scoffing seafood and watching the world go by. For many their return to BC is considered a very  special conservation success story . Photo by Michael Steinman At night we'd listen to the sea wolves howling across the bay winding up the local village dogs and watch bears foraging for berries on the beach. While exploring the wild and remote beach at Cape Scott a lonely old football floated onto the shore which we kicked around for a bit before adding it to the beach clean up pile. It was a replica tournament ball from the 2018 Russia World Cup and we wondered about the journey it had taken to get there. An unusual bit of marine debris floated onto the beach at Cape Scott, remarkably still partly inflated British Columbia is truly one of the most stunning parts of the world. Mind you, we could have used a whole lot more wind, we had the mainsail up a grand total of twice the whole summer!  After a couple of weeks visiting some favourite haunts in Tofino and Ucluelet with friends including Middle Beach where we were married in 2015, we set sail south from Ucluelet direct to San Francisco on September 12th. There's a blog about it and all the citizen science projects we participated in along the way, here. Photo by Nikkey Dawn The trip threw pretty much every set of conditions at us, from very lumpy seas and little wind for the first 36 hours, 24 hours of perfect sailing, 30 knots and 6m seas for the 70 NM either side of Cape Mendecino, to absolutely flat calm for the last 24 hours, culminating in a motor in under the Golden Gate Bridge in all its night time glory at 2200 hrs with our crew Nikkey and Constance. As we headed south we went has a close (too close!) encounter with three Sei whales who changed their route and swam directly towards the beam of Freeranger before diving below us and coming out the other side. Such a close encounter with the 3rd largest whale on the planet was humbling and nerve wracking! Less nail-biting was meeting with 5 dolphin species, literally thousands of sea lions, and more and different seabirds. Photo by Nikkey Dawn It was a pretty amazing landfall, especially for Larissa who in a perfect storm of bad luck had been seasick most of the offshore passage - something she's happily remedied since. Waking up in the anchorage at Angel Island in San Fran bay was a magical experience. It was the first major climate and environmental shift we'd had since leaving BC and climbing up the companionway steps to the cockpit and taking in the new sights and smells from the dry hills and eucalyptus trees was highly memorable. You know the feeling when you're 'somewhere new'. We cruised the bay area for a couple of weeks, staying in Angel Island, Alameda and Sausalito and had our minds blown by all the self-driving cars in downtown San Fran. We visited the Marine Mammal Rescue Center and celebrated Skye's 6th birthday on a hike to find the Redwoods and Eden's at a bowling alley with old friends. At the Sausalito Boat Show we were able to spread the word about our citizen science directory and spend time with Mary Crowley of the Ocean Voyages Institute sharing collaboration ideas for ocean conservation. We're very grateful for Karen and Jerry's hospitality in Sausalito especially during the heatwave days when we kept cool at their home while the boat was in the sweltering yard at KKMI for the installation of a new folding propeller which makes our sailing even more efficient towards our goal of minimising our ocean footprint. Offshore Secchi depth readings are a family affair to collect After San Francisco we made our way down the California coast stopping first in Monterey Bay. The marine life was more abundant than we'd imagined with whales, dolphin and seabird sightings in every direction. A visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium was a real highlight especially having worked and collaborated on projects with them over they years in our former jobs. While looking out of the big glass windows to the bay we could see whales on the horizon. A girl sat next to us with her family and was completely delighted to see whales for the first time ... "it's a dream come true" she whispered to her mum. Monterey Bay marina is an up close and personal experience with the locals An experience that stopped us in our tracks was the vast number of sealions all over Monterey Bay - in the parks, in the marinas, at the aquarium - literally thousands of them, stomping and barking all over the place. And the smell - oh my! We loved watching them and all their antics, enjoying their rambunctious behavior but the shine soon left the joy as we started spotting several that had strangling fishing wire tightly around their necks or fins. For any we spotted like that we reported them to the Marine Mammal Rescue Center on their reporting hotline. It was a sobering reminder of the impact lost fishing gear has on marine and wildlife - something we update other cruisers about during the morning cruiser Nets. The changing flora and fauna as we sail south is so exciting to see Further south in Catalina Island we experienced another environment and climate shift. Calls of "CACTUS!!!" rang out as we made the approach into the bay. Hot, dry and arid hills peppered with tall spikey cacti were such a foreign sight for us after so long in lush green British Columbia. Duncan had the unenviable task of diving on the propeller just outside the islands when it got tangled in fishing line. He was a little pale as he went off the stern, no doubt his mind full of uncomfortable thoughts of Great White Sharks - a fair concern as the islands are one of the most famous nursery grounds for them in the world. Luckily none came to visit. After a couple of nights on anchor we celebrated Canada Day with a Canadian boat (home to a lovely Brit and South African!) and enjoyed the novelty value of having neighbors that included a real life pirate who would fire his handheld cannon at dusk each evening making us jump our of our skin the first time during dinner. We had a smooth passage across to Newport Beach arriving at dusk to the lights of all the waterfront homes. The marinas and private moorage was all choca-bloc so we wondered if we'd be lucky with a spot in the Government anchorage which it turned out we were the only people staying in - very VIP. This was a perfect landing point for a highly anticipated family day at Disneyland and a chance to catch up with an old university buddy. By mid-October we reached San Diego arriving in the morning having navigated several warships on the way into the bay. We had secured a reciprocal spot at the beautiful San Diego Yacht Club but in a twist of fate our gearbox failed on entry to the marina and we ended up reversing in and staying two weeks at the dock while we worked to get it sorted. It was a bonus for the kids and visiting Grandy to enjoy the pool and entertainment at the club and we had many visitors including friends, family and club members to show around the boat and explain the project. We can't give thanks enough to Steve and Tomi for their generous welcome to San Diego - they made us feel right at home. San Diego is a fantastic city and it was a great place for us to make final preparations for the voyage into Mexico. We signed up to join the 30th Baja Ha Ha , an popular cruiser rally into the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. With over 30 kids taking part with their families we thought it would be a great opportunity for Eden and Skye to have a good social time ... and, us too of course with Theo and Ali joining in for the journey (a couple of articles on us here  and here ). Engaging other cruisers with conservation and citizen science inspiration is also a big part of our motivation! Having made quite the name for ourselves with our prize-winning costumes at the welcome event we enjoyed sharing information about the Citizen Science Directory and environmental education with the other 400 boaters taking part. Many of the friends we made have been cruising with us in the weeks since and support for the Citizen Science directory and project demonstrations has been fantastic! The wildlife on the Baja coast was extraordinary - no doubt because of our timing with the sardine run in Baja California - a natural event where sardines and mackerel migrate along the coast and attract predators. We had a feast of our own as we sailed down the Baja coast It's considered one of the most exciting natural events in the North Pacific and for good reason! It takes place from mid-October to the end of November when large schools of sardines and mackerel migrate together and create a dreamy feast for predators like dolphins, sea lions, sharks, whales, orcas, tunas, and marlins who are attracted to the sardines and who we'd watch daily from the boat. The jumping marlin were always a treat to see ... less so the shark who tailed our fishing line for some hours before giving up and catching his own. The timing was also good for migrating whales - Gray and Humpback - which we've been journeying south with since leaving BC. And on the arrival to Bahia Maria we were greeted at dawn by a super-pod of hundreds of dolphins. We spent a few weeks based initially out of La Paz exploring the Sea of Cortez with a great visit from Liza. One of the best places for s norkeling near La Paz, Mexico we found was Isla Espíritu Santo, particularly the areas of "Los Islotes" where you can swim with sea lions, and other nearby spots like "El Bajo," "Las Ánimas," and "La Reina" which offer diverse marine life including parrotfish, barracuda, and groupers. We were delighted to see so many sea turtles in these waters and have shared a new project in the directory about it. Whale shark photo by Jeremy Bishop - we've got a video we'll add to the site soon. A highlight was the opportunity to join marine biologist and science educator Pablo Ahuja, a co-founder of Mar Libre - on a whale shark trip. La Paz, Mexico is a key location for whale sharks because of its nutrient-rich waters and plankton blooms, which provide an ideal feeding ground for the gentle giants. Aside from coming to feed, the whale sharks of La Paz also come here to give birth and rear their young in the safe, warm and shallow waters. The conditions that make the waters of La Paz ideal for whale sharks also attract blue and humpback whales who come to feast and revel in this natural nursery. Whale sharks are endangered and protected by Mexican law and as such it's essential to do this with a licensed operator that enforces a "look but don't touch" policy. We spent most of the day with him learning about the history of marine studies on manta rays and whale sharks in La Paz which he's been involved in for decades. To snorkel alongside them with experienced guides in their natural environment was an experience of a lifetime. In the Baja we were able to add some more local projects to the citizen science directory including some very interesting initiatives on sea turtles. In early December we sailed further north to Isla San Francisco a small island off the eastern coast of Baja California Sur, south of Isla San José. It's a stunningly picturesque crescent shaped island, with pristine shores and crystalline waters. Perfect for the kids to work on their snorkel skills. At the end of the year we set off across the Sea of Cortez stopping at the remote and wild Isla Isabel. It's a small volcanic island about 15 miles off the west coast of Mexico, about 90 miles south of Mazatlan and 70 miles north of Banderas Bay. Fondly called 'Mexico's Little Galapagos' by French filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau who spent many months on the island, the marine sanctuary is best known for its diverse ecosystems, birdlife and marine mammals. We had breathtaking encounters with Blue-footed boobies, frigate birds and brown pelicans who live in their thousands on the island and have no care or interest in the handful of humans that visit each day. Hiking across the island was an astonishing experience with birds nesting absolutely every where. While looking up you also had to be looking down to be sure not to step on one of the gazillions of iguanas that cruised around looking for sunshine. One afternoon we went snorkelling with the kids only to find ourselves in the pathway of a pod of pilot whales. We stayed put as around 20-30 cruised right around us and passed us by gracefully diving below us as they went. We're rarely speechless but that was quite something. Of course, typically, we had no camera to capture the moment, such is the serendipitous nature of wildlife encounters! Adventures in the crocodile mangroves with some Cobb and Copeland Clark kid-bait We spent Christmas in La Cruz with family aboard - it was much needed family time for everyone and we enjoyed marina movie-nights, learning about Mexican Christmas traditions, trips to the local crocodile sanctuary, a turtle release and opportunities to spend time with friends new and old in Punta Mita, La Cruz, Tenacatita and Barra de Navidad where we are now. There are lots of kids boats here and we're enjoying a daily cruiser update on the Net sharing local marine life trivia and environmental tips with our boating friends. We've been hosting some educational outreach events aboard Freeranger inviting our boat neighbours aboard to learn about projects we - and they! - can participate in during their cruising. We have added many new projects to the Citizen Science Directory for Cruisers we have set up on the Free Range Ocean website www.freerangeocean.org , and we are now building some exciting initiatives with local partners in the Pacific Islands that will make FREERANGER available to support their local ocean conservation projects.   Next up our plan is to set off from Mexico in the spring on a passage to Pitcairn!  We’re very much looking forward to 2025!

Join us at the 67th annual Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS) - it's North America's largest indoor boat show - for an interactive seminar about sailing and citizen science where Duncan and Larissa will share stories and tips for participating in exciting research projects! Why Not Be A Citizen Scientist? Thursday January 23 7:00pm - 8:00pm Eastern Time Location: Studio EX: Theatre Beside Hall B Entrance, East Side Add to My Personal Calendar Tickets: https://www.torontoboatshow.com/education/seminars/ Description Boaters know all too well the challenges our ocean faces from human activity – but what to do about it? Can we, as individuals, really make a difference? What is a citizen scientist? Where can you practice and what tools are needed? How do you collect information and where do you send it? What projects are appropriate for you whether boating locally or offshore? Can you do it alone or in a group? Come to be inspired about projects around the world that need help and energize into being proactive yourself! Speakers Liza Copeland, Duncan Copeland, Larissa Clark (Livestreamed) B.C. Marine Authors Liza grew up racing on the Solent, UK. She met Andy at the Sunfish World championships and they subsequently ran 12 meter Flica 11 as a Caribbean charter boat. They were married aboard the American classic Ticonderoga, before sailing across the Atlantic on the Fifer Eileen. After working, racing and cruising in Vancouver, they set off on a two-year Med/Caribbean plan in their 40’ Beneteau Bagheera with three young children but ended up in Australia for the Tall Ships regatta and continued to cruise around the world for six years. Later they sailed around North and Central America and to many new and old haunts in Africa and the Caribbean before returning to explore beautiful BC and Alaska. Liza is the award-winning author of four best-selling books. Just, Still and Comfortable Cruising recount their cruising adventures. Updated Cruising for Cowards, co-authored with Andy, is a readable how-to text . See: www.aboutcruising.com Ocean advocates and sailors Duncan Copeland and Larissa Clark are currently on a world voyage with their two children aboard Freeranger, their 50ft Beneteau. Together they have over 40 years experience running ocean focused-environmental campaigns and communications. In 2023 they founded Free Range Ocean, a non-profit organization dedicated to using adventure sailing, citizen science and storytelling to inspire action for a healthy ocean among boating and coastal communities. www.freerangeocean.org