Miniboats, Major Impact: The Legendary Returns to Sea with OOI Roots

In 2022, we shared a story of student-driven ocean exploration: a miniboat deployed from the R/V Neil Armstrong as part of the Educational Passages program, intersecting with the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) Coastal Pioneer Array. That miniboat was one of many in a fleet of educational vessels aimed at engaging students in ocean science, data interpretation, and maritime technology. Today, we’re excited to provide a scientific update on one of the program’s longest-running vessels: The Legendary.

Originally built in 2018 by elementary students in Manchester, NH, The Legendary was designed to foster early engagement in oceanography and to introduce students to the physical and observational tools of marine science. During its maiden voyage, the boat passed near the OOI Pioneer Array and students used this opportunity to correlate real-time OOI measurements—like sea surface temperature, salinity, and currents—with the miniboat’s trajectory, deepening their understanding of ocean circulation and data-based prediction.

After making landfall in Portugal in October 2019 during its second voyage, The Legendary became a catalyst for international STEM collaboration. Portuguese students adopted the vessel at Agrupamento de Escolas Diogo de Macedo, refurbishing it and connecting virtually with their peers in New Hampshire to continue its mission of oceanic discovery.

In February 2025, The Legendary was finally relaunched into the Atlantic Ocean alongside another miniboat. Equipped with an upgraded GPS tracker, the vessel continues to serve as a student-driven observational platform. As it navigated wind and ocean currents, students tracked its progress, analyzing real-time environmental conditions, and drawing connections to large-scale oceanographic processes. After less than two weeks at sea, the boat made its way to Morocco, traveling nearly 600km. This new landing brings an opportunity for more students to come aboard the project, living up to its namesake: Legendary.

This long-duration project illustrates the synergy between Educational Passages and the OOI. While OOI provides continuous, real-time measurements of physical, chemical, and biological parameters across key regions of the global ocean, Educational Passages offers a scalable, accessible pathway for students to interact with those data. Through these programs, students aren’t just learning about the ocean – they’re participating in its observation and interpretation.

To follow The Legendary’s current voyage and read more about its evolution, visit the Educational Passages feature article: Crimson Voyager and The Legendary Relaunched from Portugal.

The Legendary landed on a sandy beach in Morocco, just south of Zaouiet Bouzarktoune. (c): Educational Passages

The Legendary (c): Educational Passages