Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Clean-Up Mission

Aim

Sailing around Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: Harnessing Wind and Teamwork to Combat Plastic Pollution and Protect Our Oceans

Who We Are

We are Clean Ocean Sailing — a passionate, dedicated crew of sailors, volunteers, and ocean lovers based in Cornwall. Our mission is to protect the marine environment using traditional, low-impact sailing methods that honour the ocean’s rhythms.

Our vessel, the 118-year-old wooden schooner The Annette (affectionately known as Annie), is the heart of our work. She carries us to remote and hard-to-reach coves where plastic pollution accumulates, places often inaccessible by motorized boats or land vehicles or even by foot. Places where nature’s balance is delicate and must be honored and NOT polluted.

We believe that nature has inherent rights—to thrive, to be free from harm, and to sustain life—and we strive to uphold these rights in every action we take.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.

Since starting, thanks to dedicated volunteers we have removed over 70 tonnes of marine pollution!

Join Us on a Voyage to Protect Our Seas

After many successful missions powered by your incredible support—we’re preparing to sail again!

In August 2026, Clean Ocean Sailing will sail around Cornwall and Isles of Scilly for a new expedition focused on removing plastic pollution while honouring the natural rhythms and wildlife.

Our approach is rooted in respect: we work with nature, not against it, ensuring our clean-ups protect the environment’s integrity and respect its natural cycles.

This is a call for you to join us — as volunteer, create your own fundraiser to support us, donate or simply share our story with friends and family.

Our expedition will:

• Sail around Cornwall and Isles of Scilly aboard Annette, relying entirely on wind power, a clean and ancient energy source that leaves no carbon footprint.
• Use kayaks, canoes and rowing boats to access and clean beaches and coves that are otherwise unreachable, minimising disturbance to wildlife and habitats.
• Remove hundreds of kilograms of marine plastic and ghost fishing gear—harmful debris to wildlife causing entanglement, ingestion and injuries.
• Engage with locals and visitors to share the message of respecting nature, inspiring sustainable choices that protect marine life.
• Return with collected waste to be carefully sorted, recycled and creatively repurposed by partners who share our commitment to sustainability, circular economy and respect for the planet.

Thanks to partnerships with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, we gain special permission to access protected islands responsibly, avoiding sensitive breeding seasons and ensuring our work supports the natural balance.

This mission is powered by wind, respect, and community, showing how people can act as stewards and allies of the ocean.

Why Does This Matter?

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly may seem untouched, but hidden beaches and coves suffer from the relentless tide of plastic pollution. This waste poses a serious threat to marine life, from entanglement to ingestion exposing wildlife to toxic pollutants, disrupting fragile ecosystems which have a right to exist free from pollution and harm.

We believe that nature’s rights are human responsibilities. By acting with care and respect, we demonstrate what’s possible when people join forces to protect the planet’s living systems—turning concern into tangible change. We believe in action over despair. 

How Your Support Helps

Your donations fund:

• Eco-friendly supplies and safety gear that minimises environmental impact
• Care and maintenance for our beloved schooner The Annette
• Responsible recycling and repurposing of collected waste, promoting circular economy around marine plastics
• Community clean-ups and educational events that promote respect for nature

Every £1 you contribute keeps this mission afloat—both literally and figuratively—helping us sail further, clean more, and inspire many. Protecting the ocean by working with it, not against it.

Impact and Outcomes of Our Previous Missions

In 2024, thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we raised £5,035 and  removed 754 kilos of rubbish from the Isles of Scilly. This year we will spent 3 times longer cleaning remote islands and we will collect, transport and repurpose thousands of kilograms of plastic. But we don’t see this waste as just rubbish — we see it as a valuable resource waiting to be transformed.

By collecting marine plastics and ghost fishing gear, we capture materials that are recycled and creatively repurposed, giving them new life as kayaks, art installations, and everyday items. This approach embodies the circular economy, turning pollution into potential and reducing the burden on our planet.

Beyond cleanup, we connected with local communities and shared stories that amplified the message of ocean stewardship and the power of sustainable, circular practices.

Explore our journey through these stories and media:

Read about our legendary first Isles of Scilly clean up mission in 2019.

Follow the ship’s log from our Cornish Coast clean up in 2020.

Watch the award-winning video of our voyage to Exeter Waves of Change.

Dive into diary entries from our Ocean Wellbeing Project in 2022.

Read the blog about the stormy Isles of Scilly mission in 2023.

See the video and magical moments from our Isles of Scilly return in 2024.

This year, with your help, we aim to do even more. Together, we can turn marine pollution into potential, keeping plastics out of the ocean and in the cycle of reuse and regeneration. 

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and stories from our 2026 mission—see the impact your support makes possible.

How You Can Help:

• Donate what you can—every pound supports respectful, nature-aligned ocean protection
• Share our story with friends and family to spread awareness
• Sponsor a removal of a bag of marine plastics: £30 removes one full sack of plastic pollution, helping restore nature’s balance
• Look out for thank-you gifts that celebrate the ocean and its living systems

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th September 2026 at 11:58am