Embarking on a Journey: The Darwin200 Expedition
A gallant group of tall-ship operators is on the verge of breathing new life into Charles Darwin’s celebrated voyage of exploration. This momentous trip gave rise to the concept of evolution. A team comprising environmental researchers and audacious explorers is gearing up to launch from Plymouth on a three-masted schooner. Their mission is a global conservation expedition, fittingly named Darwin200.
In 1831, Darwin set off on his journey from the same harbor, journeying aboard the research vessel HMS Beagle. In a modern-day parallel, young conservationists will partake in a two-year expedition to echo Darwin’s journey. Their vessel of choice is the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde, which has been rechristened as the “World’s most exciting classroom.”
Embarking on a Global Mission: The Expedition Begins
On August 15th, the Oosterschelde will kickstart a 40,000 nautical mile voyage. Their trail mirrors the one charted by Darwin. During this expedition, the ship will anchor in 32 ports spread over four continents. At each port, eager young environmentalists will board for education and conservation missions.
Darwin spent five transformative years voyaging through the southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He took advantage of the unique opportunity to study isolated populations of plant and animal life on remotely located islands. His findings formed the bedrock for his theory of evolution, which he presented profoundly in the pivotal book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.”
The Symbolic Schooner: A Monument of Cultural and Historical Significance
The Oosterschelde, now poised to sail across the world, is on a mission to motivate future environmental leaders and scientists. The ship, a monument of cultural and historical significance recognized by the Dutch government, is the largest sailing vessel ever to be restored in the Netherlands. Erected initially as a cargo vessel in 1917, she was relaunched following extensive refurbishment in 1996.
Lifelong Impact: Sailing Towards Conservation
The ship’s crew is a versatile set, amalgamating both environmental scholars and audacious explorers. Their tasks include steering, navigating, and manning the three-masted schooner—under the watchful eyes of a professional crew. They will track ocean plastics, document coral reef health, and execute surveys of seabirds, whales, and dolphins.
Acclaimed primate researcher and Darwin200 patron, Dame Jane Goodall, voices her support for the expedition, a beacon of hope amidst our planet’s struggles. This voyage offers many a chance to recognize there’s still an opportunity to spearhead change, even as the world grapples with environmental, climatic, and biodiversity challenges.
