A DOZEN volunteer sailors are needed for a once in a lifetime voyage around the UK.

The Darwin200 UK Voyage is part of preparations for the main two-year Darwin200 expedition, set for 2021, which will follow in the footsteps of naturalist Charles Darwin.

Organised by Hamworthy-based explorer Stuart McPherson, the expedition involves a voyage onboard a Weymouth-based tall ship, travelling to the same 50 ports Darwin made landfall onboard HMS Beagle.

It was Darwin's time on HMS Beagle that cemented his ideas about the natural world, leading to the publication of his landmark On the Origins of Species – a groundbreaking scientific book which introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection.

The Darwin200 mission will turn the tall ship Pelican of London into a floating classroom, sailing the world's oceans while conducting five research projects.

However, Stuart, is currently looking for 12 volunteer sailors to join the crew for the UK voyage aboard Pelican of London, to enable the main project's systems to be tested and to take part in promotional activities in major UK cities and ports.

Stuart said: "Between 24-hour stops in ports around the UK’s coasts, we will sail to the most interesting and beautiful corners of the British Isles.

"We will explore breathtaking lochs and pass dramatic castles.

"We will land (where possible) to see circles of ancient standing stones, the abandoned villages of the mysterious ‘lost’ island of St Kilda, spot whales and seals, and pass immense cliff side seabird colonies."

The UK voyage is already mostly paid for through sponsorship – volunteers only need to pay a small contribution to cover food costs and basic expenses.

Among the 6,000 islands of the British archipelago, that will be visited during the voyage, will be the Scilly Islands, Hebrides, St Kilda, Shetlands and Orkney Islands.

During the voyage the Pelican of London, a 45-metre long training ship built as an Arctic trawler in 1948, will have 10 professional crew.

Additionally, there will be up to 14 Darwin200 staff and research programme participants.

The UK voyage is scheduled for August and September this year.

Email info@darwin200.com for further information on how to sign up.