James Ketchell presents to Glenmoor and Winton Academies

On July 13, 2026, The International SeaKeepers Society delivered three Educational Outreach sessions at Glenmoor and Winton Academies in Bournemouth with 54 students as part of their annual enrichment week. SeaKeepers invited DISCOVERY Vessel Captain James Ketchell, who recently completed a 30,000-nautical-mile voyage aboard ‘Mindset’, to join them and inspire the cohort with stories from his mammoth sail and lessons from his life of adventure. As he explored the global oceans, James used his vessel as a platform for advancing marine science, collecting bathymetric data for Seabed 2030 and microplastic samples for the National Oceanography Centre. By completing this voyage, James became the first person to circumnavigate the globe by land, air, and sea. In his talk, he shared how a positive mindset helped him overcome challenges, open new doors, and achieve his goals. Following James’ introduction, the students took part in a creative activity where they designed and created their own ocean-crossing vessels out of paper and cardboard, taking inspiration from James’ experiences at sea aboard Mindset. The students’ pieces all showcased their personal interpretations of what a person would need to travel across the ocean, such as the fastest boat, the largest sail, a great sponsor, or even a comfy bed!

The International SeaKeepers Society hosted these sessions to show students how adventure, determination, and curiosity can open the door to incredible opportunities. James spoke honestly about the challenges he has faced throughout his expeditions and the importance of resilience, taking each day as it comes, and continuing to move forward even when things become difficult. By emphasising how anyone can support ocean conservation through citizen science, James also showed the students how exploration can play a vital role in driving positive change. SeaKeepers would like to thank James Ketchell for generously sharing his experiences and inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps and become future ocean stewards. We would also like to thank the staff and students at Glenmoor and Winton Academies for inviting us to participate in their enrichment week. We look forward to many more collaborations in the future.