RV Whale Song: Icon Vessel of the 2027 South32 Rottnest Channel Swim

Thousands of swimmers. One famous stretch of ocean. And one research vessel that has spent decades getting to know the whales beneath them.

RV Whale Song, the flagship research vessel of Centre for Whale Research (CWR), will be the Icon Vessel of the 2027 South32 Rottnest Channel Swim. CWR is also one of the charities the swim supports.

Meet – Eye in the Sky

Our campaign combines 35+ years of whale research with aerial surveys, fine-tuning the way we survey whale populations.

We’ve raised AUD $2.3 million towards the aircraft and ViDAR camera system. One piece is left: a $130,000 gimbal-mounted camera.

Donate to Eye in the Sky

What it means for marine life

We’ll be able to track:

Humpback whales in the offshore waters of Ningaloo/Nyinggulu
Pygmy blue whales in offshore waters around the Perth Canyon, Ningaloo/Nyinggulu and Geographe Bay
Dugongs and dolphins in the shallows of Shark Bay
Dolphins in the coastal areas and islands of The Whitsundays

Healthy marine life means healthy oceans.