ARC26
Women at the Helm: Sailing Science Across the Atlantic
Itinerary
Scientific Research
About the expedition
When science meets the sea, the true adventure begins. This November, an international all-women crew of scientists, explorers, and leaders will set sail aboard the sailing vessel Lady Magellan to compete in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) 2026.
More than a high-stakes transatlantic race, this journey is a vital scientific expedition. Operating as part of Polarquest’s Fleet4Science, our crew will utilize every nautical mile to collect critical environmental data, championing ocean conservation, climate research, and global education. We cross an ocean not just to race, but to witness, measure, and protect our planet.
oUR Mission
Turning an ocean race into a scientific expedition
The ARC is the original transocean race for cruising yachts, drawing around 150 boats every year to sail the classic trade-wind route. But aboard Lady Magellan – a unique 46-foot fast sailing cruiser built with composite materials and equipped with a carbon mast, water ballast, and a hydraulic keel – the objective extends far beyond the finish line.
Our mission unites women from diverse fields, including a CERN science communicator, an ESA reserve astronaut, an international human rights lawyer, and a climate neuroscientist. Our aim is to prove that adventure and scientific discovery go hand in hand. By pushing the boundaries of citizen science in extreme offshore environments, this voyage celebrates resilience, discovery, and the power of collaboration to protect our planet.
About Lady Magellan
Ocean under Threat
Why does this matter?
Oceans regulate our climate, yet they remain under-sampled and deeply threatened by human activity. By integrating specialized scientific payloads into a competitive racing environment, the ARC Mission demonstrates that cruising yachts can act as agile, low-impact research platforms.
Through empirical data collection and global educational outreach, we aim to bridge the gap between complex climate science and the public, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM and fostering a global community dedicated to marine conservation
Understanding the state of the oceans is essential for our future. Sailors who can collect ocean data while crossing some of the world’s most iconic routes are valuable in this mission.
meet the ARC Crew
Paola Catapano (IT)
Skipper & Science Communicator
Lady Magellan’s skipper and owner, Paola Catapano, has a Master’s degree in science journalism, is a science communicator at CERN and a science writer with 4 published books. She created Polarquest.org, a Citizen science Association specializing in sailing expeditions for science. A passionate sailor and explorer since the age of 12, she has sailed to the record latitude of 82°07’ North, circumnavigated the Spitzbergen archipelago, crossed the Magellanic Channels and the Bay of Biscay, and took part in Arctic and Antarctic science expeditions.
Dr Meganne Christian (UK/AU/NZ/IT)
Crew Scientist
Dr. Meganne Christian was selected in the ESA reserve Astronaut corps in 2022 and is currently a Mission Manager for In Space Manufacturing at the Satellite Applications Catapult at the UK Space Agency. With a PhD in industrial chemistry, Meganne has conducted materials science research at Italy’s CNR in Bologna and completed two missions at Concordia Station in Antarctica, including a winter-over. She recently added sailing to her long list of sports and hobbies.
Elena Gazzarrini (IT)
Media & Communications
Elena Gazzarrini holds a Master in Physics from King’s College London. She has worked in the CERN IT department for 3 years as a software developer and later as a science communicator and content curator for science exhibitions. She is passionate about communicating scientific concepts in visual and interactive ways and is currently pursuing a second Master in Media Design. Besides sailing, she loves climbing mountain walls (and masts).
Maria Lopez Quiroga (ES)
Medical Officer
A neuroscientist and medical doctor, Maria Lopez Quiroga holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from Karolisnka Institutet, currently doing her PhD on the effects of climate change on mental health at University of Geneva. A triathlete and a keen sailor, she enjoys racing on lake Leman when she is not running, swimming or doing long endurance rides.
Flora Laidlow (UK)
Crew Engineer
Flora Laidlow has just graduated from the University of Southampton with a Mechanical engineering degree, where her final year project contributed to the development of an ocean alkalinity sensor. Flora is a passionate sailor, having previously spent a year racing around the Caribbean, including the Caribbean 600, before sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from Antigua to Guernsey aged 18. In her spare time she’s an avid hockey player, enjoys tennis and watching all sports, particularly rugby
Helen Morris (IR)
Safety & Sustainability
An international lawyer and advocate for refugees, Helen Morris has worked in refugee camps and in refugee cities in Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan and Zambia. A passionate sailor, she has crossed 3 oceans, and sailed 2 legs of the Clipper Round the World race, including the Sydney – Hobart race. After witnessing the extent of ocean plastic on a voyage to Antarctica, she joined the 2019–20 eXpedition to collect data and raise awareness about marine pollution.
Route & Milestones
September 2026 – Early Campaign
November 22, 2026 – The Start
The Atlantic Crossing
December 19, 2026 – The Finish
“Knowledge of the oceans is more than a matter of curiosity. Our very survival may hinge upon it.”
Scientific Projects
Aboard Lady Magellan, our crew doubles as a team of specialised citizen scientists. Our multi-disciplinary research initiatives span marine biology, oceanography and atmospheric physics.
TIMEPIX@school Project
In a unique collaboration with CERN Knowledge Transfer, the crew will use advanced particle detection technology to measure cosmic radiation along the equator during the expedition.
Monitoring this high-energy radiation from deep space is of great scientific importance for understanding atmospheric dynamics and space weather interactions at sea level. Beyond the physics, this project holds immense educational value by connecting with schools around the world during the expedition. Rather than just reading textbooks, students can engage in real-time scientific research, tracking raw radiation counts alongside the crew as the boat crosses the ocean.
Sealabs Project
Operating as a core citizen science initiative curated by Ambiente Europeo, the crew will routinely collect and analyze seawater samples throughout the transatlantic race track.
The parameters monitored on board include salinity, temperature, pH, and other critical indicators of ocean health. As the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it shifts chemically and becomes more acidic.
By empowering citizen scientists to monitor these fluctuations across the Atlantic, this project provides essential data to help global researchers understand climate change and map marine ecosystem health in regions rarely visited by traditional research vessels.
Monk Seal eDNA Project
In collaboration with the Marine Biology Department of the University of Milano-Bicocca and Prof. Elena Valsecchi, the crew will conduct specialized sampling in the Canary Islands this September as part of the SpotTheMonk project.
The core mission activity involves collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) samples to monitor the presence and distribution of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). Marine organisms constantly shed genetic material like skin cells, waste, and mucus into the water column.
eDNA serves as a revolutionary, non-invasive conservation tool that allows scientists to detect elusive or endangered species simply by analyzing a cup of seawater, completely eliminating the need to visually spot or disturb the animals.
Sustain This Research
This vital conservation work relies on collective funding. Help us purchase filtration kits and lab reagents by contributing directly to our crowdfunding campaign.
SUPPORT THE MISSION
To protect our oceans, we must first understand them. Aboard Lady Magellan, we are translating athletic competition into definitive scientific knowledge… but we cannot do it alone.
Every mile sailed contributes to scientific knowledge and ocean conservation. Whether you are a student inspired by our journey, a researcher looking to collaborate, a potential partner, or a sponsor aiming to champion women in STEM and true environmental action, there is a place for you on our team.
- Partner With Us: Join our mission as a corporate or institutional collaborator to help facilitate science on the high seas. Contact us at ladymagellan25@gmail.com.
- Support the Science: Back our active crowdfunding campaign to directly support the deployment of marine biology kits in the Atlantic.
- Follow the Journey: Follow our social channels, engage with our live data stream, and share our story as we race across the Atlantic for the planet.
Our Partners & Sponsors
