Sailors Rescue Owl 70 Miles Out to Sea
British Army crew competing in Round Britain and Ireland Race nurse bedraggled barn owl back to health before transferring it to wildlife centre
A British Army sailing crew has rescued a bedraggled barn owl 70 nautical miles out to sea while competing in the 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race. The crew, aboard the yacht Fujitsu British Soldier, found the exhausted bird attempting to join their team and sparked a complex coordination effort with multiple wildlife agencies.
The owl, which the crew initially christened 'Little Reg' before discovering it was female and renaming it 'Little Regina', was nursed back to health by the sailors before being transferred to a wildlife centre. The rescue operation involved the Barn Owl Trust, Marine and Wildlife Rescue, and Caister Independent Lifeboat.
The crew's circumnavigation, which spans 1,805 nautical miles, continued uninterrupted, with the finish line at Cowes awaiting them. Despite the unexpected addition to their crew, the sailors remained focused on completing the race, with skipper Will Naylor jokingly noting that finishing with their original complement could prove awkward.
## What happened next The owl's arrival aboard the yacht was less than graceful, with the bird failing to land on a crew member's head and tumbling from the mast into the sea three times before finally collapsing onto the deck. The crew secured it with a towel, and Sergeant Mark Petherbridge of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, praised the owl's determination, saying 'we thought we'd lost her, but she kept fighting her way back up and to the boat'.
## Why it matters The rescue highlights the importance of coordination between different agencies in responding to wildlife emergencies. The successful rescue of the barn owl also underscores the compassion and quick thinking of the British Army sailing crew, who balanced their competitive goals with the need to protect and care for the stranded bird.
The incident has also drawn attention to the challenges faced by birds and other wildlife in the open sea, and the role that humans can play in helping to protect and conserve these species. As the crew of Fujitsu British Soldier continues their journey, the safe transfer of 'Little Regina' to a wildlife centre serves as a heartening reminder of the positive impact that people can have on the lives of animals in need.
