Sergeant Mark Petherbridge (L) and Captain Tom Court (R) with rescued barn owl, Little Regina, aboard Fujitsu British Soldier (Reuters photo)
A British Army sailing crew got recently an unexpected passenger during a race around Britain and Ireland when an exhausted barn owl landed on their boat about 70 nautical miles from shore. The race covered 1,805 nautical miles, and the crew could not simply stop their journey to take the bird back to land. We are doing our best to help it,” the centre said in a Friday update, People’s Magazine reported.
The sailors saw the owl fall into the water several times before it finally managed to reach the boat, according to Reuters. The Parachute Regiment, the bird tried to get onto the boat after falling from the mast and into the sea, according to Sergeant Mark Petherbridge of 2nd Battalion. “We thought we’d lost her, but she kept fighting her way back up and to the boat,” Petherbridge said. Skipper Will Naylor told race officials that the crew now had an additional member for the latter part of the race. An exhausted barn owl that we are nursing back to health,” Naylor said. Staff at the centre said the bird was in poor condition when it arrived.
The exhausted bird then collapsed on the deck. The crew secured it with a towel and began looking after it as they continued towards the finish line at Cowes. They later named the owl Little Reg, before changing the name to Little Regina. The Barn Owl Trust, Marine and Wildlife Rescue and Caister Independent Lifeboat also became involved in getting the bird safely back to shore while the Army Sailing Association crew continued the race. The bird had reportedly tried to land on the head of one of the crew members before tumbling into the water. It fell into the sea three times before eventually making it onto the deck. Once aboard, the sailors realised that the owl was extremely tired. “We have an extra crew member for the latter parts of the race. He also joked about the unusual addition to the crew, saying, “Someone is going to have to walk the plank! The sailors continued to care for the owl as their boat made its way towards Cowes. The rescued owl receiving care at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre. As the sailors continued their journey, arrangements were made to get the owl off the racing boat and back to land. The Barn Owl Trust, Marine and Wildlife Rescue and Caister Independent Lifeboat helped with the rescue. The lifeboat collected the bird so it could be taken to a wildlife centre for further care. The owl was eventually transferred to the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre in King’s Lynn, England. “The owl is sadly very emaciated and weak, but is now receiving fluids, nutrition, warmth and plenty of rest. The wildlife centre also asked people to donate items that could help with the owl’s recovery, including heavy-duty cat beds.
The bird was found struggling in the open sea on Thursday while the crew of Fujitsu British Soldier was taking part in the 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race.
The race began from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on August 9. It attracted 33 boats and 182 crew members representing 22 countries. Johnny Vincent’s Volvo 70 Pace later edged out Palanad 4 on corrected time to win the overall IRC victory.
He told the BBC that the owl had little access to food while it was on the racing boat and could have died without being taken back to land. He described the bird’s ability to find another boat as “nothing short of a miracle”. James Stannard, a conservation officer for the Barn Owl Trust, helped organise resources after receiving a call about the bird. Stannard also offered a possible explanation for how the owl ended up so far from shore. He believes the bird may have unknowingly roosted on a fishing vessel while it was docked. If that vessel later went out to sea, the owl could have been carried into open water without realising it. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Pace had also taken Monohull Line Honours earlier in the week.