Meet MB Inspiration, a miniboat built by Central Falls students in collaboration with GSO and Educational Passages. After crossing the Atlantic in 2022, it was repaired by students in the UK and relaunched from the Canary Islands in December 2024. Below, explore the many phases of MB Inspiration’s story: one build, one repair, and two voyages!
Voyage #2
In November the miniboat traveled from the U.K. by container ship, alongside the Ebb & Flow’s boat, to La Gomera in the Canary Islands. There it was unpacked by the miniboat crew who had traveled to the Islands to help with its relaunch.
The miniboat was set to sea, from a local fishing vessel, on December 12. Thank you to Captain Jason Pipe for taking the miniboat crew out to make the launch happen
Follow MB Inspiration’s second journey and explore real-time data by visiting Educational Passages.
Miniboat repaired in the UK
Following the landing in the U.K. in 2022, GSO, Central Falls Schools, Ebb & Flow Atlantic Row 2024 and the Mudeford Sea Scouts worked together to repair the MB Inspiration so it could be relaunched. An electronics system was installed by William Lack and the Mudeford Sea Scouts to track location, collect air and water temperatures, and note the boat’s orientation
Voyage #1
On March 26, 2022, the MB Inspiration was launched into the Atlantic from the RV Endeavor near the shelf break. The miniboat traveled nearly 15,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean, eventually washing ashore in Christchurch, United Kingdom, on November 26, after 245 days at sea.
The miniboat traveled almost 15,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean, washing ashore on November 26th in Christchurch, United Kingdom after 245 days at sea. The MB Inspiration was brought to Tiptoe Primary School in Lymington, where students unpacked the hatch and had the opportunity to virtually met the Central Falls students who built the miniboat!
MB Inspiration built by Central Falls students
Starting in February 2022, GSO graduate students and staff led hands-on activities with Central Falls elementary, middle, and high school students. Third graders at Raíces Dual Language Academy and Veterans Memorial built the miniboat while learning about ocean topics. Once the boat was completed, middle and high school students in an after-school program installed sensors to track its journey and collect data such as air and surface water temperatures.
The GSO Miniboat program is made possible by the Devereux Ocean Foundation, Inc.