Rosie O'Donnell
Bridging adventure and research, Rosie’s charting a course where every superyacht can serve the ocean it sails upon.
For Rosie O’Donnell, the sea has always been home. Born in Cornwall, she grew up exploring rivers, woods and coastlines, developing the independence and curiosity that would shape her life. “My mum was an artist who’d send us outside to play for hours,” she recalls. “That kind of freedom made me fearless about going off on my own.”
After stints in Canada and Saudi Arabia, Rosie returned to Cornwall and discovered sailing as a way to see the world. Starting out in a 14-foot dinghy, she worked her way up to larger boats, completed a yacht rigging apprenticeship in Plymouth, and crossed the Atlantic five times. “I just wanted to see the world,” she says. “I couldn’t wait.”
That wanderlust eventually led her to Yachts for Science (YFS), an initiative connecting superyachts with scientists who need access to the ocean for research. Rosie, who previously handled logistics for Arksen, was asked to help with “matchmaking” – pairing the right boat with the right project. “It’s about finding that triangle: what’s good for the owner, for the ocean, and for the researcher,” she explains.
Under her coordination, YFS has supported over 20 active research projects, from manta ray studies in the Marquesas to ROV exploration in the Arctic. Vessels like Solace, newly fitted with advanced research equipment in partnership with EYOS, are showing how luxury and purpose can coexist. “The best research is often repeated,” Rosie notes. “That’s how you build meaningful data.”
What inspires Rosie most is the growing enthusiasm from yacht owners and crews. “We’re seeing a real shift — owners want to be part of the science, and crews love having a sense of purpose beyond hospitality,” she says. “It’s changing the narrative of what a superyacht can be.”
A sailor, mother and matchmaker for marine science, Rosie sees every voyage as a chance to give back. “Superyachts have incredible potential to help the planet,” she says. “We’re just helping to steer that power in the right direction.”
