27 oct ’25
Lady Magellan Safety at Sea Training
In preparation for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) 2026, Helen Morris, Senior Policy and Evaluation Officer at UNHCR, joined her fellow crewmates of Lady Magellan for a hands-on sea survival training on Lake Geneva. As the all-women crew prepares to set sail across the Atlantic next November, they’re learning that confidence at sea begins with preparation and teamwork.
Why do I love sailing?
So many reasons, you learn something every time; you’re immersed in nature, and you appreciate the beauty, the majesty and the power of nature. But the power of nature can also be scary and when things can go wrong, it can all happen very fast. If you know what to do and have done drills, the risks of injury are lessened dramatically. A sea survival course is a brilliant way to learn and to practice so that if there is a critical incident, you know what to do. On 18 October, we did a sea/lake survival exercise with the retired life-raft from Lady M. It was sunny and calm, but chilly, the water temperature 16 degrees.
Once moored in the bay of Versoix, we launched the life-raft and watched as it deployed perfectly. Not even capsizing!
Skipper Paola immediately jumped overboard and swam to the raft, while Maria and Elena rescue swam the casualty, Helen, who banged her head on the boom as she jumped off!
When we were all inside the life-raft it was time to check that we had the knife to cut the painter, and find the paddles to get us away from the sinking or burning boat. Our grab bag included the radio and comms equipment and we did a practice Mayday to get help, and continued bailing out the water from the bottom of the raft.
After all that, time for tea! The emergency rations included chocolate. This is Switzerland!
We also figured out how to use the drogue. The raft was surprisingly warm and cozy, definitely reassuring in case it’s ever needed for real. And should we ever be in that situation, the training will kick in and help us not panic and focus on what’s needed.
Photo credit: Mike Struik
More Polarquest News
BioBlitz activity report
On May 23, 2025, three vessels of the newly formed Fleet4Science teamed up with the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca to take part in the Spot-The-Monk campaign—an effort to monitor the elusive Mediterranean monk seal through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. This collaborative operation brought together marine biologists, sailboat owners, young students, and passionate science communicators in a unique blend of research, adventure, and public engagement.
How Citizen Science can change wildlife conservation through eDNA monitoring
The Mediterranean monk seal, once widespread, is now critically endangered and mostly found in remote caves. A new study highlights how citizen science and eDNA monitoring—using the BioBlitz method—are helping conservationists track and protect this elusive species.
Polarquest joins the BioBlitz campaign to Spot the Mediterranean Monk Seal
Polarquest and its newly created Fleet4Science partners with the Environmental Science Department of Milano-Bicocca University to collect data for the BioBlitz campaign, created to monitor endangered monk seal populations through eDNA collection in the Mediterranean.
The Big Plastic Count: Join Polarquest to Monitor Plastic Pollution!
From March 31 to April 6, 2025, track your plastic use and help collect crucial data to combat pollution. Plastic waste is a global crisis—let’s take action together! Polarquest is participating to raise awareness about plastic’s impact, especially in polar regions.
Polarquest2018 featured on AISE ahead of the Norway tour
Italian AISE’s article on Paola Catapano’s April conference tour in Norway to present the Polarquest 2018 expedition.
Dalle Bobine alla Frontiera: La Memoria di Gianni Albertini Rivive con Polarquest
Fotografie, documenti e filmati inediti sull’avventura HEIMEN-SUCAI sono stati riportati alla luce in un filmato realizzato da Christian Cinetto di Polarquest. Il documentario crea un ponte tra passato e presente, affiancando le immagini storiche a quelle della spedizione Polarquest2018, in un viaggio visivo che mostra come, anche a un secolo di distanza, l’Artico resti una frontiera di scoperta.
© Polarquest Association