Pioneer Student Boat Crossed Atlantic 3X

Seven years ago, the scientists and crew on the research vessel Neil Armstrong released a mini boat built by students at Quaker Elementary School and Waterford High School in Waterford, Conn.  Earlier this year, the Lancer mini boat completed its crossing of the Atlantic. The boat’s third voyage started in December 2022, off the coast of Tenerife, Spain, and ended in The Bahamas on Earth Day, April 22, 2023.

The boat was made from a kit in 2016, made multiple ocean crossings and was highlighted on a BBC2 Documentary. This remarkable journey and story will be celebrated in a 30-minute webinar, December 18 at 8 am, including highlighting the contributions of many who helped along the way. It is free and open to the public with registration here. For those who missed the webinar live, you can view it here. 

The Lancer was launched on from the R/V Neil Armstrong for its first trans-Atlantic crossing on May 7, 2016.  Credit: Ken Kostel © WHOI.

This science project, started by a student named Kaitlyn in 2016, has since connected individuals across five countries.  The Lancer and sister ships are part of Educational Passages, with a mission of connecting  people around the world to the ocean and each other through unique global experiences such as their mini boat program. Students build the mini boats that drift with currents and follow their progress using GPS.

In November 2022, the Pioneer 19 team and crew of the R/V Neil Armstrong launched a sister ship and drifter, Lady Lance.  This boat was recovered in the Azores in May 2023.

The student-built drifter mini boat Lancer was recovered in the Bahamas after its third Atlantic voyage. Credit: Educational Passages.