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Active Conservation
Off the glittering coast of Sardinia, on board the yacht Adventure, something special unfolded. A conservation project led by Nautica Assistance’s Ocean Lovers initiative invited charter guests to take part in a turtle tagging mission.
By sponsoring a rehabilitated sea turtle and funding its satellite tracker, guests can follow its journey after release, with vital, real-time updates sent to the research team. They even get to name their turtle, choose a safe release point, and watch as it re-enters the wild — contributing valuable insight to long-term research efforts. The project partners with CReS – The Sinis Marine Turtle and Cetacean Rescue Center, and the Department of Environment for the Sardinia Region
A Surprise with Purpose
The collaboration started with a long-standing relationship. Captain Beau had known key people at Nautica Assistance for nearly two decades.
“They reached out and said, ‘This is great — you're going to be here, the timing is perfect. Out of all the captains we know, you'd be one of the ones to do this.’ And I said, absolutely — let’s go for it.”
He brought the idea to the principal charter client — to sponsor and tag a rescued turtle, adopting it for the duration of its satellite tag lifespan.
“The client loved it. Thought it was beautiful,” says Beau. “We decided to keep it a surprise from the rest of the guests.”
The crew played along. Guests were told they’d be helping clean up beach litter. But when the moment arrived, the truth surfaced.
“I said, ‘This is what we’re really doing. We’ve adopted this turtle. Her name is Kalina. We’re going to release her and follow her journey.’ They were blown away.”
“I can’t express enough how emotional it was... it was truly beautiful.”
- Beau West, Adventure's Captain.
Kalina’s Story and The Moment of Release
The marine biologists were introduced to the crew and guests. They shared Kalina’s story:
Kalina was discovered on 1st September 2024, floating near the shores of Geremeas, close to Villasimius in Southern Sardinia — a region known for its loggerhead turtle nesting grounds. She had a fishing hook lodged in her mouth and a metre-long line tangled inside her stomach. Swift action from the local marine network saw her transported to the veterinary clinic in Oristano, where surgeons successfully removed the hook and line. She then spent ten months rehabilitating at the Sinis Rescue Centre.
Tagging loggerhead turtles helps researchers track their movements; revealing key patterns in feeding, mating, and nesting. By gathering this data across different life stages, scientists can better identify critical habitats, monitor population health, and understand how human activity, like fishing and pollution, impacts their survival.
Protecting Sardinia’s Sea Turtles
Southern Sardinia is now a hotspot for turtle activity, as rising sea temperatures push nesting zones westward from their traditional eastern grounds. But as the turtles adapt, they face a new set of challenges; from fishing nets and hooks, to artificial lighting on urbanised coastlines. Many hatchlings, drawn by streetlights instead of the moonlit sea, head inland by mistake — a fatal detour.
Kalina’s recovery, and return, is not just a small victory for one turtle, but a broader reminder of what’s at stake, and how yachting can and must share a course with conservation.
“We watched the turtle finally walk towards freedom and swim off. After learning about all she had been through, it was a very emotional moment. There were quite a few people with tears in their eyes.” Beau shares.
“Every day, I still check in to see where she is. She’s kind of circled around and is heading back toward the spot we released her.”
For many on board, Kalina’s journey became symbolic. It turned a holiday into a memory. It turned guests into advocates.
A Win for Everyone
This wasn’t just a moving moment for the guests. The crew felt it too.
“We were counting down to Turtle Day like it was Christmas,” Beau laughs. “The crew were ecstatic. Everyone was so happy to be part of something like that.”
And it wasn’t lost on the charter team either.
“I contacted David Price at Y.CO and said, ‘This really aligns with Adventure, with our name, everything we’re trying to do on board.’ It worked on all fronts.”
Rethinking What’s Possible on Charter
As more guests seek immersive and meaningful experiences, initiatives like this are becoming part of a new charter language.
“We work in the service industry — we create moments and memories. And this did exactly that. I’d do it every charter if I could.”
“It’s something different from the milk run. It adds meaning.”
Beau is passionate about the potential of bridging the gap between ocean advocacy and the world of yacht chartering.
“I’d love to be an advocate for this in the yachting world. If there’s another opportunity, I’d put my hand up straight away.”
Conservation, Connection, and Kalina
The mission forged connections between high-end yachting and hands-on conservation. Turning holiday downtime into environmental legacy.
And Sardinia, with its warm waters and rich biodiversity, proved the perfect backdrop.
“It’s located in the Mediterranean’s warmer southern sector, towards the African continent. And being able to track Kalina, follow where she goes — the more we learn about her patterns, the more we’ll understand why this region is so special.”
Back on board Adventure, something had shifted. Kalina had swum free, charting her own path; but something stayed with everyone. A sense of purpose and of having been part of something bigger. For the guests, the crew, and the yacht herself, it marked not just the release of a turtle, but the start of a new kind of charter.