07/06/2026
🌊 This World Ocean Day, a six-person crew aboard the 50ft sailing vessel FREERANGER prepares to set sail from Aotearoa New Zealand to Tonga on a 1,100-nautical-mile scientific expedition.
Hosted by the amazing people at Free Range Ocean, the voyage will support our research as well as the incredible research being done by Citizens of the Sea. The voyage will follow the migration route used by endangered oceanic manta rays and will help us to gain a better understanding of the risks they face out on the high seas. In particular, we hope to gain a better understanding of a series of Manta deaths just South of Tonga.
Along the way, the crew will collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples for Citizens of the Sea, helping reveal the hidden biodiversity of some of the Southwest Pacific's most remote waters.
We are so grateful to everyone who has supported Manta Watch Aotearoa New Zealand to this point. This is a milestone for us and it wouldn’t have been possible without the kindness, volunteer hours and support that we have received over the years. Free Range Ocean is a volunteer organisation and we are so thankful for their generosity in having us along for this amazing expedition.
Huge thanks to The International SeaKeepers Society DISCOVERY Programme, Island Cruising Pacific Rally 2026, Another World Adventures, This Chapter PR, our amazing Manta Watch NZ community, and the many volunteers and supporters helping make this journey possible.
The crew consists of Duncan Copeland, Larissa Clark and their two wonderful Tamariki. Lydia Green will be representing Manta Watch and the talented Sam Campbell will be telling our story every step of the way.
Follow along as the voyage unfolds. ⛵🐋💙
