Conquer the Island 2026

On April 15–19, 2026, The International SeaKeepers Society joined crew from the Little Ship Club as they put their shore-based learning into practice with a 50 nautical mile circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Applying passage planning, tides, weather, and pilotage, crews sailed alongside legends Mike Golding OBE and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as guest skippers. All vessels supported SeaKeepers’ mission of ocean research, conservation, and education. Crews followed a clockwise transit of the island, sailing the traditional Round the Island Race route in reverse. This was a technical nine-hour passage that required precise timing to hit tidal gates, navigate heavy commercial traffic, and manage unpredictable conditions. While at sea, all crew supported Eyesea, SeaKeepers’ citizen science project to map global pollution and maritime hazards by building the world’s largest pollution database.
The International SeaKeepers Society attended the event to engage the sailing community in ocean conservation through the DISCOVERY Programme. Conquer the Island 2026 provided crews with hands-on sailing experience while contributing to ocean science. Throughout the race, participants logged marine pollution sightings through Eyesea, helping to build a clearer picture of pollution at sea by contributing to the world’s largest pollution database. The event demonstrated how the yachting community can come together to support a wider purpose. SeaKeepers would like to thank Alexandra Henry, Lewis McDonald, the Little Ship Club, Prometheus Sailing, Island Sailing Club, Sunsail, Mike Golding OBE and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston for their support.