Army crew turns offshore race into barn owl rescue operation

An offshore yacht race turned into a wildlife rescue operation when the crew of Fujitsu British Soldier took an exhausted barn owl onboard on the same day that the 2026 Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Round Britain and Ireland Race was won.

The Army Sailing Association crew was working with wildlife organisations and the Caister Independent Lifeboat to get the bird safely ashore while continuing the 1,805-nautical-mile race as Pace, a Volvo 70 owned by Johnny Vincent, won overall under IRC, adding the title to monohull line honours. Vincent’s vessel completed the course in 6 days, 14 hours, 47 minutes and 31 seconds, crossing the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line in Cowes on 16 August.

Meanwhile Sergeant Mark Petherbridge of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (2 Para) was helping land a barn owl. “We thought we’d lost her, but she kept fighting her way back up and to the boat,” he says.

From offshore stowaway to rescue operation

The barn owl appeared as the Sun Fast 3600 was racing south towards Cowes, about 70 nautical miles east of Newcastle.

Skipper Major Will Naylor alerted RORC’s race team: “We have an extra crew member for the latter parts of the race. An exhausted barn owl that we are nursing back to health. It’s currently sleeping soundly and recovering.”

The crew initially called the bird Little Reg, a nickname traditionally used for soldiers in 2 Para. They later discovered the owl was female and began calling her Little Regina.

Getting her aboard was not straightforward. The bird first tried to land on a crew member’s head before losing her grip. It then attempted to land on the mast, falling into the sea three times.

Eventually, the owl reached the side deck, where the crew covered her with a towel.

Coordinating help from shore

Once the owl was aboard, the sailing crew contacted the Barn Owl Trust, which helped coordinate the response with Marine and Wildlife Rescue.

Dan Goldsmith of Marine and Wildlife Rescue then worked with the organisations involved to arrange collection of the bird near Great Yarmouth.

The rescue was ultimately carried out by the Caister Independent Lifeboat, which collected the owl before she was taken to the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre for recovery.

Goldsmith says: “We are very grateful to all who collaborated to ensure the barn owl made it safely to the East Winch Wildlife Centre.

“The crew on Fujitsu British Soldier did an amazing job keeping it stable, and particular thanks to the Caister Independent Lifeboat who did not hesitate to participate in today’s rescue.”

The owl’s rescue came during the 50th anniversary edition of the RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race. The race started in Cowes on 9 August and covers 1,805 nautical miles around Britain and Ireland before returning to Cowes.

The Army Sailing Association is competing in the race for the fifth time. Little Regina is now recovering at the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre.