Racing Yachts Double As Floating Labs For Ocean Research
This article beautifully captures the vision we’ve been working toward for years: transforming racing yachts into floating laboratories capable of collecting biodiversity data across the…
Open ocean · under way0 m · Surface
Turning the world’s seafarers into a global ocean-observing network.
Citizens of the Sea brings seafarers and scientists together to collect biodiversity and environmental observations from remote, under-sampled waters.
Begin the descentA shared observatory
Where research vessels are scarce, everyday voyages can extend the reach of science.
Cruising yachts, racing teams, voyaging vessels and commercial ships already cross waters that are difficult and expensive for dedicated research expeditions to reach.
With practical tools and shared protocols, participating crews can gather observations at sea while scientists analyse and interpret them ashore. Environmental DNA is one part of a broader picture that can include onboard sensors, environmental context and satellite observations.
From wake to sequence · 25 m
A voyage becomes a living ocean record.
The programme turns the ordinary rhythm of offshore passage-making into a distributed sampling network.
- 01
Sail
11th Hour Racing / The Ocean Race - 02
Observe
- 03
Analyse
- 04
Share
Christian Sardet & Les Macronautes / Chronique du plancton
100 m · Thermocline
Below the mixed layer the light thins, the water cools, and the archive begins.
Twilight zone from 200 m
On film · 200 m
Liz, Barry, Lily, Felix & Rufus.
The star of the story is one of our sailing families: Liz, Barry, Lily, Felix and Rufus who talk about how the ocean brings joy to their lives and why they want to work with Citizens of the Sea to help protect it. Watch it below.
Empowering sailors to collect eDNA across the South Pacific
Thanks to the Minderoo Foundation, we are very fortunate to be part of a new series produced for International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
A letter to Nature
Liz Powell is a sailor and Citizens of the Sea participant. This is her letter to Nature.
Field notes · 260 m
Latest from the fleet and the lab
eDNA collection in the Pacific for 2026 kicks off
This year we’re sending off 24 Citizen Scientist crews across the Southwest Pacific, expanding our reach even further with new routes from Australia to New Caledonia. During the first…
Citizens of the Sea partners with Vendée Globe in 2026
Citizens of the Sea is proud to announce funding by the Vendee Globe Foundation to collaborate with skipper Fabrice Amedeo in 2026.
Our citizen scientists · 350 m
The fleet behind the data
Real crews carry the work across offshore routes. Their vessels, field knowledge and time at sea are what make this collaboration possible.
Nº 01Ocean Calling 
Nº 02Hinemoana II 
Nº 03Lucky Jonny 
Nº 04Warrior 
Nº 05Jadamama 
Nº 06Moana 
Nº 07Whisky Romeo Hotel 
Nº 08Leeway 
Nº 09Nahla 
Nº 10Way To Go 
Nº 11ZamZam 
Nº 12Geniet Lewe
Plankton · Photo: Richard Robinson, New Zealand Geographic
Acknowledgments · 600 m
Citizens of the Sea didn’t happen overnight. We acknowledge the partners and funders who have contributed over a number of years to various pilot projects, hardware and methods that have brought this programme to life.
- Cawthron Institute
- New Zealand Geographic
- Vendée Globe Foundation
- VEPA
- Reef Explorer Fiji
- Minderoo Foundation
- Illumina
- LiveOcean Foundation
- KiwiNet
- SeaKeepers
- Fonds Pacifique
- Chapman Tripp
- Ocean Calling
- Tonga Voyaging Society
- Island Cruising
- Conservation International
- Eagle Technology
- Esri
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Sequench
- NGAIODx
- Zymo Research
- Hurst Design
- Kernohan
- Smith-Root
- QIAGEN
Take part · 1,000 m
There is more than one way aboard.
The network grows through long-term partners, participating vessels and people who choose to support the work. Start with the path that fits you.
Partner with us
Work with CitSea on programme delivery, research, technology, fleet access or long-term funding.
Join the Fleet
Interested in taking part? Contact the CitSea team with your vessel, route and timing, and they’ll follow up with relevant opportunities.
Support the work
Help fund equipment, logistics, laboratory processing, data analysis and the return of findings to ocean communities.
Participation depends on campaign relevance, safety, permissions, equipment and programme capacity.
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