The UK is an amazing place, with some stunning beaches, impressive views, and fantastic wildlife. But we're not looking after it! From cigarette butts to wet wipes to abandoned tyres, our home is overflowing with litter. And not only is it ugly, but it's causing significant damage to our oceans and wildlife.

So, we (Pippa, David, and our little boat cat Opie) are partnering with Sea-Changers to help do something about it! In addition to raising money as we sail our 28-ft yacht all the way around the country, we'll be committing to at least one hour of litter picking at each port.

On our way, we'll also be meeting up with some of the fantastic projects and organisations Sea-Changers have supported over the years, to find out what's being done to protect this beautiful world of ours.

Throughout our journey, we'll be keeping you updated here and on our Instagram page (@writingandsailing) to let you know where we are, how our litter picking went, and what we found in each place.

We'll also try to share ways you can get involved with local charities striving to improve our beaches, waterways, and more, and some of the stories we hear on our travels.

Want to get involved with a beach clean or just say hello? Our sailboat is called Sudana, and you can reach out to us on Insta @writingandsailing - we love meeting new people!

Where have we been so far?

We started our lap of the UK on our sailboat in Emsworth, Hampshire, in July 2023 after completing a major refit with lots of fibreglassing!

After Emsworth, we visited Brighton, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Dover, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Burnham-on-Crouch, Sheerness, the Medway Yacht Club, Erith, London, Queenborough, and Brightlingsea, before settling in Ipswich for the winter.

What inspired us?

During our time in Ipswich, we realised that we wanted to get more out of our travels and give back to the local and wider communities. We started doing good deeds with GoodGym, and thinking more generally about how we wanted to spend our time and what we should do to make our lap of the UK more meaningful and beneficial - both to ourselves and to the wider world.

Then, what started as a throwaway comment, "We should work with a charity", became a concrete idea. And one that we couldn't believe we hadn't thought of sooner!

It felt inevitable that we would work with a marine charity. Travelling on a sailboat couldn't put us closer to the sea, and even in the 5 years we've been living aboard, we've noticed a decline in dolphin sightings and the changes in the water and shorelines. We also noticed that (second to town/city centres) anywhere near the water seems to be a hot spot for litter; something that's so easy to fix, yet most people just walk on by.

But although we knew we wanted to partner with a marine charity, we also knew that we wanted to do more than simply fundraise and litter pick. So, when we met with the co-founders of Sea-Changers and heard more about the projects and partner charities they'd funded, it felt like the perfect match. A way of us giving back, challenging ourselves, and also having the opportunity to learn (as well as do) more as we travel around the UK.

So, a partnership was born. And we're so excited to see where it takes us.

Where are we going?

We left Ipswich in April 2024 and spent around a month in the River Deben repairing some engine problems.

From the Deben, we will be heading North, towards Scotland and through the Caledonian Canals, before turning back South and making our way down the West side of the country to complete our lap... Probably some time in 2026.

Along the way, we look forward to meeting lots of amazing people, enjoying some beautiful sights, and doing plenty of good work as we meander around the country.

We look forward to taking you along for the journey...

Who are Sea-Changers?

Sea-Changers believe that the best people to care for the UKs coasts and coastal wildlife are the people who live, work and play there. Their grants enable local people to preserve, clean up and raise awareness about the coastal environments they love. They award grants of between £500 and £1,200, twice a year, through an open application process. Your donation will enable them to enable more vital marine conservation projects can take place around the UK.