At Terminal Multiusos in Lisbon, two mini-sailboats were handed over aboard the Monte Brasil ship from Transinsular. After a long journey from the United States, these boats were decorated and worked on by students from the Escolas Azuis in Vila Nova de Gaia—the Agrupamento de Escolas D. Pedro I and the Agrupamento de Escolas Diogo de Macedo. These two boats, Crimson Voyager and The Legendary were originally launched in 2015 and 2019 by U.S. schools, and will now be relaunched on their way to the Madeira archipelago after being received in Portugal.
The event was attended by Engineer Luís Sebastião who, on behalf of Técnico and ISR-Lisboa, has been a crucial support in the technical development of the project, particularly in preparing the GPS transmitters. His team is also tasked with explaining how this innovative technology works, which enables the remote tracking of the boats’ paths.
Transinsular, in turn, has been an essential partner for the launch of the boats, providing the transportation and logistical support necessary for their release into the open sea. The relaunch to the Ocean, which took place about two-thirds of the way to Madeira, occurred on the morning of February 25 at 0800 UTC [Lat:33 55.597N Long: 015 30.693W with a light SW wind (BF2) and a WNE swell of 32/3 meters].
The Directorate-General for Maritime Policy (DGPM), responsible for the “Escola Azul” programme, was also involved in this important moment, with communication representatives present to promote the event and the project’s relevance. As the organizers emphasized, the mystery of the boats’ final destination is what makes the project so special: no one knows exactly where they will end up, but the adventure and continuous learning are the real winners of this challenge.
With the support of schools and researchers, Educational Passages continues to inspire students and communities, promoting scientific education and ocean exploration in a unique and engaging way.
