TransEurope Marinas: Citizen Science at The Ocean Race Europe
This summer, TransEurope Marinas was on the road, supporting the LandSeaLot project’s mission to enhance ocean observation awareness at The Ocean Race Europe 2025 stopovers. LandSeaLot is a Horizon Europe project, dedicated to improving how we observe the land-sea interface – the dynamic areas where land meets the ocean, including our coasts, estuaries, and bays.
As a LandSeaLot partner, TransEurope Marinas served as coordinator for the project’s stopover participation in Portsmouth, Cartagena, Nice, and Genoa. The goal was to connect the sailing and coastal communities with marine science, showcasing new and accessible ways for visitors to actively contribute to topics such as climate resilience and marine sustainability efforts.
Empowering Visitors and Coastal Communities
Our focus was on engaging local communities and attendees to become active citizen scientists. At the interactive LandSeaLot stands, visitors, from local families to stakeholders, were invited to discover more about coastal observation. The highlight was the hands-on opportunity to test new, low-cost sensors – accessible devices that non-experts can easily use to measure local factors like water temperature, salinity, and quality.
These activities, which do not require scientific expertise, show citizen science in action. By collecting coastal data, attendees learned how they can help fill important data gaps, providing real-time insights that enable faster responses to environmental threats.
TransEurope Marinas learns from Laura Fantuzzi, PhD student at Portsmouth University.
A Hub for Science and Sailing
The “Science Corner” served as a vibrant hub, sharing space with The Ocean Race’s own exhibits on the science projects conducted onboard the boats. Throughout the tour, it was fascinating to learn from co-exhibitors including the Revolution Plastics Institute and the Andrew Simpson Foundation in Portsmouth, The Ocean Race Museum from Alicante, and the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche in Nice – not to mention the amazing Ocean Race team!
Beyond the tent, the shore-based activation programme in Portsmouth, organised by the Ocean Race team, together with Portsmouth University and The Magenta Project, provided great opportunities to network with inspiring sailors and scholars working in ocean science and conservation, generating interesting opportunities for the project.
Managers from Poole Quay Yacht Haven reconnect with offshore sailor Pip Hare
A Valuable Two-Way Exchange
The LandSeaLot partnership provided an essential two-way exchange for TransEurope Marinas and the project. Our team was able to gather useful feedback on how coastal community groups could deploy cost-effective sensors more productively. This input is highly valued for LandSeaLot’s mission to deploy affordable, user-friendly technology for widespread adoption.
For TransEurope Marinas, this work allows us to gain a deeper understanding of coastal environments and to better position our network to guide marina communities on using smart sensors for environmental monitoring. We are grateful to The Ocean Race for this opportunity to further extend this work, ensuring our network remains a supportive platform for a healthier, more sustainable coastal environment.
Benefits for Boaters TransEurope Marinas
50% Discount on Visitor Berthing
With a 6-month contract at a member marina, receive a 50% discount on daily visitor rates.
Valid Across All Member Marinas
Up to five days per year at each member marina, enabling multiple discounted stays.
Smart Solutions
Make the most of a digital membership platform, helpful chartlets and cruising routes.
Benefits for TransEurope Marina Members
Reward Berth-Holders & Attract visitors
Offer your long-term berth-holders exclusive discounts
Become an Environmental Steward
Take part in innovative European ocean conservation projects
Access Peer Expertise
Join a network of experienced marina managers and access specialist training for your staff
