Join us at RNLI Lifeboat Station Whitby, a historic maritime location at the heart of the old whaling port, to hear Yorkshire Coast Nature (YCN) Director Richard Baines and local skipper Sean Baxter share stories of whale watching in Staithes and other unique insights into Yorkshire's coastal heritage.

Richard takes us on an illustrated guide to the incredible seabirds and marine mammals on our coast through stories, photography and ecology. Followed by reflections from Sean on a lifetime in fishing at Staithes and overseas, and how it led to whale watching and life today.

Travelling from Staithes and the wider Yorkshire coast has always been a major part of sailors' traditions from all Yorkshire ports, especially Staithes. This event brings together the rich and interconnected maritime heritage of the Yorkshire coast at one of the oldest RNLI stations in the country, which has been saving lives for over 200 years.

Tuesday 18 April

6.30pm doors | 7pm start

Free | registration essential: via eventbrite bit.ly/3lmgPst or email s.nicolov@leeds.ac.uk for more info

We're raising donations for the RNLI through ticket sales so please consider a voluntary donation when registering. All money raised will be donated (Eventbrite fee is added to the donation ticket and is non-refundable) to RNLI's lifesaving activities at sea.

Spaces are limited - please let the organisers know if you can no longer attend so we can offer the space to someone else. There is a waiting list.

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Bio:

YCN is a small, independent nature tourism company offering experiences with highly trained, local guides. It focuses on eco-tourism that benefits wildlife, providing grants to conservation organisations. Since 2014, YCN has been running guided seabird and whale watching trips from the fishing village of Staithes with skipper Sean Baxter.

Richard is a qualified ecologist and Director of YCN. Growing up in Yorkshire, he has lifetime knowledge of natural history and enthusiasm, passing on his experience of wildlife and ecology to a wide range of ages and abilities. He continues to develop strong conservation partnerships and funding opportunities to help birds and wildlife.

Sean is a fisherman from Staithes and the skipper for YCN. He started fishing full-time in his teens in the 1970s, learning traditions from older generations before working around the world. He now shares his knowledge about the sea and local history from the beach, boat and beyond.

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Organisers:

Yorkshire Coast Whale Week is organised by the Charismatic Encounters team at the University of Leeds with regional stakeholders and official project partners University Paris Nanterre and the World Cetacean Alliance.

See other events happening during Whale Week via our Eventbrite or project website www.worldcetaceanalliance.org/charismatic-encounters-charisma/

'Charismatic Encounters (CHARISMA): Understanding the role of cetaceans in the coastal and maritime heritage of England and France' is a research project in partnership between the University of Leeds, University Paris Nanterre and the World Cetacean Alliance.

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Location and transport:

Whitby Lifeboat Station, The Fish Pier, YO22 4DD (get directions)

Bus routes: X4/X4A Middlesbrough to Whitby (timetable), X93/X94 Middlesbrough to Scarborough (timetable)

Closest parking: Marina Car Park Front or Marina Back Car Park

Visit RNLI Whitby Museum to see Whitby's old rowing lifeboat and learn about the history of the Station on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 4pm.