On August 15, 2023, the schooner Oosterschelde set sail from the south coast of England to train and inspire a new generation of naturalists, resuming the journey made by the young Charles Darwin almost 200 years ago, which led to his theory of evolution.
The craft will serve as a floating laboratory at sea and in ports, where around 200 young naturalists and conservators from around the world will take part in the Darwin200 project.
“It’s about hope, about the future and about changing the world,” said the leader of this adventure, Stewart McPherson.
The ship will make its first “stopover” in the Canary Islands and then cross the Atlantic to Brazil. It will then sail up the east coast of South America and up its west coast to the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin made some of his most important discoveries.
Sarah Darwin, a botanical researcher, said she supports this mission in honor of her great-great-grandfather and to highlight environmental changes. She said that Charles Darwin’s greatest legacy was the recognition of people’s place in nature.
The ship will then go to Australia and New Zealand before returning to South America and then cross the Atlantic again, to South Africa, before returning to England at the end of 2025.
About Oosterschelde
Built in 1917, this uniquely restored ship is one of the most beautiful historic ships afloat. The Oosterschelde is 50 meters long, an incredible 36-meter mast and almost 900 square meters of sails. It has the capacity to accommodate 24 travel crew members.
Oosterschelde has traveled to more than 55 countries on five continents and successfully completed two global trips in 1996-1998 and 2012-2014. During these global voyages, the ship visited Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, and many other incredible destinations.
In August 2023, the Oosterschelde set out to complete the global journey DARWIN200, which consists of 32 stages of travel from England to Australia and back. It will arrive at the key places where Charles Darwin stepped ashore during the voyage of the HMS Beagle.
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