Coastal Catch Ups

I speak with Jack, who is renowned for his relentless work on getting people on the water through sailing. In this podcast , hear about the benefits of volunteering, getting on the water, and the value the coast gives people around Northern Ireland.You can subscribe to the Coastal Catch Up email or listen to other episodes at www.coastalcatchups.com.

On a wet Friday evening, myself and Ryan O'Leary sat in his camper van eating spaghetti bolognese at a local boatyard. Ryan has recently spent countless hours renovating an old sailboat he bought a while ago. Whilst he was showing me his excellent craftsmanship on his recent repair work, with a tarp suspended over the boat to protect his hard work from the sideways rain, he explained his big plans to me. To sail around the world and surf the best waves. I was amazed and couldn't wait to find out more and how this plan would work.So please join me on this Coastal Catch Up as I chat with Ryan about his life around our coasts and his exciting plans for the future.

Earlier in the week I spoke with Dr Cliff Henry, who is a Nature Engagement Officer with the National Trust. Cliff is based on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, famous for its coastal landscapes from the basalt cliffs. Cliff has experience managing the Giants Causeway and gives us insight into the challenges the site faces through increasing visitor numbers and rising sea levels. We also talk about the wide range of activities happening at the site, such as volunteering and engaging with the local communities. My favourite part of our chat was about how the National Trust is applying and testing sustainable land use measures on their land to work with nature. This seems very relevant with the ongoing algal blooms impacting our waterways and coastlines. Don't forget you can subscribe to our email list and check out other episodes at www.coastalcatchups.com.

So you find seaweed sexy? I certainly do after my chat with Rhianna Rees from the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association. Rhianna shares her views and ongoing work about the remerging seaweed industry in the UK.I found out about the historic importance of seaweed to coastal communities, and how society's perception has changed viewing it as something smelly that lies on the beach. In actual fact, there are endless uses for seaweed such as food, clothing and alternatives to plastic. Rihanna's mission is to highlight this use, creating a new sustainable industry for the UK from source to consumer.Please leave a review on the episode, it would be great the hear your thoughts. You can find out more about Coastal Catch Ups at www.coastalcatchups.com.

I had the absolute pleasure to speak with John Gilmore about his adventures around the Caribbean and his sailing career. It all started at a young age, but a key moment in John's life was when he quit his job at 31 years of age to purchase a boat to go on an adventure with a friend.We talk about the highs and lows of his adventures, including a transatlantic trip with his family, and also his observations of the changing landscape in the Caribbean. John is now settled on the shores of Strangford Lough and enjoys racing a classic yacht called the Glen.

I spoke with Tomos Davies about the future of offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. Tomos is a Project Manager and is passionate about the role south Wales will play in reaching the net-zero targets. Tomos also shared his enthusiasm for learning and development in the sector and the importance of collaboration.