A British Army sailing crew taking part in one of the world’s toughest yacht races was forced to pause its competitive focus when an exhausted barn owl unexpectedly landed aboard their vessel more than 70 nautical miles from shore.
The unusual encounter happened during the 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, as the crew of Fujitsu British Soldier continued its long circumnavigation towards the finish at Cowes.
Instead of simply racing against the clock and other competitors, the sailors suddenly found themselves responsible for nursing a struggling wild bird back to safety.
Owl Battles to Stay Aboard
The barn owl’s arrival was far from straightforward.
The bird reportedly attempted to land on a crew member’s head before falling from the yacht’s mast into the sea on three separate occasions.
Eventually, the exhausted owl managed to reach the deck, where the sailors secured it with a towel to prevent it from falling overboard again.
Skipper Will Naylor informed race officials that the crew had effectively gained an unexpected new member for the final part of the race.
“We have an extra crew member for the latter parts of the race.
An exhausted barn owl that we are nursing back to health,” Naylor said.
Crew Names Their Feathered Stowaway
The sailors initially named their unexpected passenger “Little Reg” before determining that the bird was female and changing the name to “Little Regina”.
Sgt Mark Petherbridge of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, said the crew had initially feared the owl would not survive after repeatedly falling into the sea.
The bird’s persistence, however, eventually allowed the sailors to secure it safely aboard the yacht.
Wildlife Experts Join the Rescue
With the crew unable to determine how best to care for a wild barn owl so far offshore, the unusual rescue quickly became a co-ordination exercise involving several wildlife organisations.
The Barn Owl Trust, Marine and Wildlife Rescue and Caister Independent Lifeboat all became involved in arranging the bird’s recovery.
Caister Independent Lifeboat eventually collected the owl so it could be transferred to a wildlife centre for further care.
The intervention allowed the Army Sailing Association crew to continue its race while ensuring that their unexpected passenger received professional attention.
Race Crew Faces a Different Kind of Challenge
The sailors had already taken on an extremely demanding journey, covering a planned 1,805 nautical miles around Britain and Ireland.
The addition of an exhausted bird created an unusual logistical challenge in the middle of the competition, but the crew continued sailing while monitoring its condition.
Naylor even joked about the possibility of finishing the race with an additional member of the crew, quipping that someone might eventually have to “walk the plank”.
Despite the humour, the sailors’ actions ensured that the owl remained protected until wildlife specialists could take over.
33 Boats Take on the 1,805-Mile Race
The 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race began on August 9 from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.
A total of 33 boats and 182 crew members representing 22 countries took part in the event, making it a major international fixture on the sailing calendar.
Competitors faced the demanding conditions associated with a race that requires yachts to navigate around the British Isles before returning to Cowes.
Pace Takes Overall IRC Victory
While the Army crew was dealing with its unexpected wildlife rescue, the race itself was producing a decisive result.
Johnny Vincent’s Volvo 70 Pace secured overall IRC victory after edging out Palanad 4 on corrected time.
Pace had already claimed Monohull Line Honours earlier in the week before securing the overall prize.
A Race Story With an Unlikely Ending
The dramatic encounter with Little Regina added an unexpected chapter to an event otherwise defined by endurance, competition and challenging offshore sailing.
For the British Army crew, the priority became more than simply completing the race.
Their response demonstrated how quickly a high-pressure sporting expedition can turn into an improvised wildlife rescue mission.
The exhausted barn owl, meanwhile, became an unlikely member of the Fujitsu British Soldier crew before being transferred into the care of wildlife specialists.
What Happens Next?
Little Regina will continue receiving care at a wildlife centre after being collected from the yacht.
The Army Sailing Association crew, meanwhile, remains focused on completing the demanding race and returning to Cowes after its 1,805-nautical-mile journey.
The rescue is likely to remain one of the more memorable episodes of the 50th Anniversary edition of the race, giving the sailors a story far removed from the usual battles over sailing positions and finishing times.
Summary
A British Army sailing crew competing in the Round Britain and Ireland Race found an exhausted barn owl more than 70 nautical miles offshore.
After several failed attempts by the bird to remain aboard the yacht, sailors secured it and cared for it while wildlife organisations coordinated its eventual rescue.
The bird, initially called Little Reg and later renamed Little Regina, was collected by Caister Independent Lifeboat and transferred to a wildlife centre.
Meanwhile, the race continued, with Johnny Vincent’s Pace ultimately taking overall IRC victory after previously winning Monohull Line Honours.
