Barn Owl Rescued During the 50th-Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race

The British Army Sailing Association entered the Fujitsu British Soldier in the 50th Anniversary Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Round Britain and Ireland Race, a non-stop 1,805-nautical-mile circumnavigation that starts and finishes in Cowes. Skipper Will Naylor led the crew, which includes soldiers such as Sergeant Mark Petherbridge of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. With roughly 170 nautical miles remaining, the vessel was racing south toward Cowes when an exhausted barn owl appeared 70 nautical miles offshore, east of Newcastle.

British Army sailors rescue Barn Owl 70 miles offshore during RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race

After the owl fell into the sea three times and finally collapsed on deck, the crew secured it with a towel and provided a temporary bed. They alerted the Barn Owl Trust, which contacted Marine and Wildlife Rescue. Dan Goldsmith of that organization arranged for the Caister Independent Lifeboat (NILA) to meet the yacht off the Norfolk coast. The lifeboat collected the bird, transported it 60 miles to the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, and began re-hydration and feeding. The rescue was described as “very lucky” because the owl is not migratory and could have drowned or been caught in a storm.

Barn owl rescued in Norfolk after racing crew find it at sea British Army sailors rescue Barn Owl 70 miles offshore during RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race France 24

Dan Goldsmith expressed gratitude to all parties, noting that the crew’s care kept the owl stable until the lifeboat arrived. The RORC race organisers publicly thanked the British Army crew and the rescue partners for safeguarding a protected UK species.

British Army sailors rescue Barn Owl 70 miles offshore during RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race

• “We thought we'd lost her, but she kept fighting her way back up and to the boat,” — Sergeant Mark Petherbridge

British Army sailors rescue Barn Owl 70 miles offshore during RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race

• “We are very grateful to all who collaborated to ensure the barn owl made it safely to the East Winch Wildlife Centre this morning,” — Dan Goldsmith, of Marine and Wildlife Rescue

British Army sailors rescue Barn Owl 70 miles offshore during RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race