A trio-masted schooner departs Plymouth Monday, carrying youthful naturalists for a two-year educational expedition. Additional crew wanted.
By Monday, August 14th, with optimal tides, a vintage sailing ship will navigate Plymouth’s historic Sutton Harbour lock and set course southwest toward the Canary Islands. This marks the commencement of a biennial global journey, encompassing 32 ports and engaging countless individuals in the innovative Darwin200 initiative. This project seeks to cultivate upcoming environmental leaders and scientists, among other objectives.
Furthermore, daring individuals have the opportunity to join the crew for remarkable voyages such as between Tahiti and the Cook Islands, or from Cape Town to the Falklands.
The Oosterschelde, a classic Dutch three-masted schooner, intends to duplicate the path charted by an historical vessel nearly two centuries in the past. On Boxing Day in 1831, within Plymouth, a young man stepped onto the HMS Beagle. The ensuing day marked the commencement of a journey that would reshape our world’s course. At the age of 22, Charles Darwin remained unaware of the immense significance that the expedition would eventually hold. He grappled with what we now recognize as impostor syndrome, questioning his worthiness of the bestowed opportunity. Fortunately, his resolute determination and boundless enthusiasm prevailed. This is the same spirit that Stewart McPherson, the founder of Darwin200, aspires to leave as a legacy through this undertaking. The ambition is to identify 200 young naturalists from 200 countries who will ultimately assume leadership roles – these are the individuals who will steer transformative shifts. Along its route, the Oosterschelde will make contact with sites as distant from each other as Cape Verde, Rio, Auckland, and Tasmania – all destinations previously reached by Darwin.
Thus far, the initiative has handpicked 50 youthful naturalists aged 18 to 25. Take, for instance, Afonso Nascimento, the offspring of a fisherman hailing from Fernando de Noronha, an isolated Brazilian isle. Afonso’s upbringing instilled in him an unwavering resolve to safeguard turtles within his homeland, an endeavor through which he has successfully rescued thousands of these creatures. Analogously, like the rest of the chosen naturalists, Afonso will be granted the opportunity to engage in studies within one of the 32 designated ports, forging connections with ongoing conservation undertakings. Their primary mission involves scrutinizing the specific species cataloged by Darwin, ranging from spinner dolphins to carnivorous flora, subsequently delivering assessments on their present status and formulating effective strategies for their preservation.
Stewart McPherson, a seasoned figure with participation in numerous BBC geographical series and recognized as the discoverer of 30 new species, emphasizes, “The impact of an individual driven by determination can be truly transformative. This phenomenon is a recurring theme. One of our youthful leaders managed to amass £40,000, acquired a neglected peat bog, and rehabilitated it with indigenous flora. Others have spearheaded extensive tree-planting campaigns. We seek young individuals ablaze with unrefined passion, individuals intent on revolutionizing the world.”
Nevertheless, the expanse of this ambitious endeavor extends beyond its initial goals. Throughout the span of the two-year odyssey, a series of complimentary lectures, experiments, and activities are slated to be broadcast from both the vessel and the 32 ports it will visit. These offerings will be accessible to a global audience through the Darwin200 website, fostering engagement on an international scale. A further facet includes weekly competitions, one of which offers a coveted prize – a chance for a school class and their instructor to travel to the Galápagos and engage in studies under the guidance of botanist Sarah Darwin, who happens to be the great-great-granddaughter of the eminent naturalist.
In Plymouth, the commencement festivities are scheduled for the upcoming weekend, marked by an event hosted at the National Marine Aquarium. The city’s strategic location owes much to its maritime history, as it stands ideally positioned to await propitious weather conditions for embarking on extensive voyages. As the Oosterschelde sets sail on Monday, it will be manned by a 24-person crew, presenting another avenue for enthusiasts to partake. “We’re still in need of crew members for certain legs of the journey,” states Gerban Nab, the ship’s Dutch captain. He specifies, “No previous experience is requisite, just a willingness to collaborate effectively within a team.”
With over three decades of experience at the ship’s helm, Gerban has navigated the vessel for more than 30 years, and this upcoming venture will mark the third complete circumnavigation. “This mode of travel differs profoundly from other methods,” he reflects. “You’re intimately connected with the water, wind, and weather. Navigation is guided by the stars. Upon reaching your destination, there’s a palpable sense of accomplishment – quite unlike the experience of air travel!”
Constructed in 1917, the Oosterschelde previously earned her livelihood by traversing the globe, carrying assorted cargo such as coal from Cardiff, oranges from Morocco, and Baltic timber. Her journey has seen her through numerous challenges, including a wartime encounter with a mine, periods of abandonment, and tumultuous storms. Gerban remarks, “Initially, she was just a utilitarian cargo ship, unremarkable in many ways. However, after restoration, she’s been transformed into a marvel – every intricate detail exudes beauty. She moves gracefully through the water, and the sails mitigate the motion.”
This, Darwin would surely have appreciated: His own vessel, the HMS Beagle, earned a reputation for inducing seasickness in him throughout every leg of his monumental expedition.
