Sailors Save Stranded Barn Owl During Race at Sea
By Editor • August 20, 2026 • 1 min read
In a remarkable turn of events during the demanding 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, a British Army sailing crew found themselves rescuing a barn owl stranded 70 nautical miles offshore. The exhausted bird made an unexpected attempt to join the crew aboard the Fujitsu British Soldier.
Skipper Will Naylor shared the lighthearted challenge of having an unexpected “extra crew member,” as the team worked to care for the owl while navigating toward Cowes. After a few failed attempts to land gracefully on a crew member, the barn owl, affectionately named 'Little Regina,' ended up on the deck, where the sailors wrapped it in a towel for safety.
The rescue involved coordination with multiple wildlife organizations, including the Barn Owl Trust and Marine and Wildlife Rescue, to ensure the bird received proper care after its dramatic sea journey.
Source: www.france24.com
#barn owl #British Army #RORC Race #sailing #wildlife rescue
