Micronations/List of already existing micronations/Principality of Sealand

The Principality of Sealand, commonly known as Sealand, is a micronation that claims Roughs Tower, an offshore platform in the North Sea approximately 12 km off the coast of Suffolk, as its territory. Roughs Tower is a disused Maunsell Sea Fort, originally called HM Fort Roughs, built as an anti-aircraft gun platform by the British during World War II.http://www.sealandgov.org/about History of Sealand The Principality of Sealand https://web.archive.org/web/20151001184858/http://www.sealandgov.org/about 1 October 2015 live http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/all-hail-sealand/ All Hail Sealand 20 March 2012 The New York Times Frank Jacobs 4 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121006211748/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/all-hail-sealand/ 6 October 2012 live dmy-all Since 1967, the decommissioned HM Fort Roughs has been occupied by family and associates of Paddy Roy Bates, who claim that it is an independent sovereign state. Bates seized it from a group of pirate radio broadcasters in 1967 with the intention of setting up his own station at the site. He attempted to establish Sealand as a nation state in 1975 with the writing of a national constitution and establishment of other national symbols. While it has been described as the world's smallest country,Skateboarding the World's Smallest Country: Red Bull All Access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pHwkbDx_34 17 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131205220954/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pHwkbDx_34 5 December 2013 live dmy-all http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22726244-5002031,00.html JOURNEYS – THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY: Simon Sellars braves wind and waves to visit the unlikely North Sea nation of Sealand 10 November 2007 The Australian 10 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20081205092448/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22726244-5002031,00.html 5 December 2008 dead dmy-all Sealand is not officially recognised by any established sovereign state in spite of Sealand's government's claim that it has been de facto recognised by the United Kingdom and Germany. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in force since 1994, states: "Artificial islands, installations and structures do not possess the status of islands. They have no territorial sea of their own, and their presence does not affect the delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf".https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf#page=39 Article 60: Artificial islands, installations and structures in the exclusive economic zone United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 45 https://web.archive.org/web/20151109235201/http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf 9 November 2015 live United Nations New York PDF Since 1987, Sealand has lain within the United Kingdom's territorial waters. Bates moved to the mainland when he became elderly, naming his son, Michael, as regent. Bates died in October 2012 at the age of 91.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/10/prince-sealand-dies Self-declared prince of sovereign principality of Sealand dies aged 91 The Guardian 8 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305102125/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/oct/10/prince-sealand-dies 5 March 2016 live dmy-all Michael lives in Suffolk,Micronations John Ryan George Dunford Simon Sellars Lonely Planet 2006 1-74104-730-7 9–12 where he and his sons run a family fishing business called Fruits of the Sea.Milmo Cahal Sealand's Prince Michael on the future of an off-shore 'outpost of liberty' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sealand-prince-michael-on-the-future-of-an-off-shore-outpost-of-liberty-a6940201.html 30 December 2017 Independent March 18, 2016 History HM Fort Roughs In 1943, during World War II, HM Fort Roughs (sometimes called Roughs Tower) was constructed by the United Kingdom as one of the Maunsell Forts,Zumerchik John Seas and Waterways of the World: An Encyclopedia of History, Uses, and Issues 2008 ABC-CLIO Ltd 978-1-85109-711-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=IBKoUXrF5p0C&pg=PA563 563 primarily to defend the vital shipping lanes in nearby estuaries against Nazi Kriegsmarine mine-laying aircraft. It consisted of a floating pontoon base with a superstructure of two hollow towers joined by a deck upon which other structures could be added. The fort was towed to a position above the Rough Sands sandbar, where its base was deliberately flooded to sink it on its final resting place. This is approximately 7 nmi km 0 from the coast of Suffolk, outside the then 6 km claim of the United Kingdom and, therefore, in international waters. The facility was occupied by 150–300 Royal Navy personnel throughout World War II; the last full-time personnel left in 1956. Occupation and establishment Roughs Tower was occupied in February and August 1965 by Jack Moore and his daughter Jane, squatting on behalf of the pirate station Wonderful Radio London. On 2 September 1967, the fort was occupied by Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British subject and pirate radio broadcaster, who ejected a competing group of pirate broadcasters.Micronations John Ryan George Dunford Simon Sellars Lonely Planet 2006 1-74104-730-7 9 Bates intended to broadcast his pirate radio station – called Radio Essex – from the platform.Gould Jack 25 March 1966 Radio: British Commercial Broadcasters Are at Sea; Illegal Programs Are Beamed From Ships The New York Times 19 December 2015 https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E06E6DC1E39E735A75756C2A9659C946791D6CF subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170906/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E06E6DC1E39E735A75756C2A9659C946791D6CF 22 December 2015 live dmy-all Despite having the necessary equipment, he never began broadcasting.Edwards, Chris; Parkes, James (19 October 2000). "Radio Essex" and "Britains Better Music Station" https://web.archive.org/web/20140917092141/http://www.offshoreechos.com/forts/radio_essex.htm 17 September 2014 . Off Shore Echoes. Retrieved 11 May 2011 Bates declared the independence of Roughs Tower and deemed it the Principality of Sealand. In 1968, British workmen entered what Bates claimed to be his territorial waters to service a navigational buoy near the platform. Michael Bates (son of Paddy Roy Bates) tried to scare the workmen off by firing warning shots from the former fort. As Bates was a British subject at the time, he was summoned to court in England on firearms charges following the incident.Welcome to Sealand. Now Bugger Off https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.07/haven.html Wired News July 2000 11 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080430153926/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.07/haven.html 30 April 2008 live dmy-all But as the court ruled that the platform (which Bates was now calling "Sealand") was outside British territorial limits, being beyond the then 3 nmi km 0 on limit of the country's waters, the case could not proceed.Regina v. Paddy Roy Bates and Michael Roy Bates, The Shire Hall, Chelmsford, 25 October 1968. http://www.seanhastings.com/havenco/sealand/judgement.html Regina v. Paddy Roy Bates and Michael Roy Bates The Shire Hall, Chelmsford https://web.archive.org/web/20070302111533/http://www.seanhastings.com/havenco/sealand/judgement.html 2 March 2007 29 May 2015 dead In 1975, Bates introduced a constitution for Sealand, followed by a national flag, a national anthem, a currency and passports. Attack in 1978 and the Sealand Rebel Government In August 1978, Alexander Achenbach, who describes himself as the Prime Minister of Sealand, hired several German and Dutch mercenaries to lead an attack on Sealand while Bates and his wife were in England.Micronations John Ryan George Dunford Simon Sellars Lonely Planet 2006 1-74104-730-7 11 Achenbach had disagreed with Bates over plans to turn Sealand into a luxury hotel and casino with fellow German and Dutch businessmen.https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-micronation-sealand-2017-3 WELCOME TO SEALAND: The utterly bizarre independent micronation that's been sitting off the British coast for over 50 years Adam Payne Business Insider They stormed the platform with speedboats, Jet Skis and helicopters, and took Bates's son Michael hostage. Michael was able to retake Sealand and capture Achenbach and the mercenaries using weapons stashed on the platform. Achenbach, a German lawyer who held a Sealand passport, was charged with treason against Sealand and was held unless he paid DM 75,000 (more than US$35,000 or £23,000).Attempt to free captive from private 'island' fails 5 September 1978 3 The Times Germany then sent a diplomat from its London embassy to Sealand to negotiate for Achenbach's release. Roy Bates relented after several weeks of negotiations and subsequently claimed that the diplomat's visit constituted de facto recognition of Sealand by Germany. Following the former's repatriation, Achenbach and Gernot Pütz established a government in exile, sometimes known as the Sealand Rebel Government or Sealandic Rebel Government, in Germany. In 1997, the Bates family revoked all Sealand passports, including those that they themselves had issued over the previous 22 years. There were thought to have been about 150,000 in circulation. This was due to the realization that an international money laundering ring had appeared, using the sale of fake Sealand passports to finance drug trafficking and money laundering from Russia and Iraq.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/apr/12/3 Police swoop on Sealand crime ring Adela Gooch 12 April 2000 www.theguardian.com The ringleaders of the operation, based in Madrid but with ties to various groups in Germany, including the rebel Sealand Government in exile established by Achenbach after the attempted 1978 coup, had used fake Sealandic diplomatic immunity and license plates. They were even reported to have sold 4,000 fake Sealandic passports to Hong Kong citizens for an estimated $1,000 each.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/money-laundering-global-fraudsters-use-sea-fortress-as-passport-to-riches-1240742.html Money Laundering: Global fraudsters use sea fortress as passport to 23 September 1997 The Independent 2006 fire thumb|Sealand several months after the fire On the afternoon of 23 June 2006, the top platform of the Roughs Tower caught fire due to an electrical fault. A Royal Air Force rescue helicopter transferred one person to Ipswich hospital, directly from the tower. The Harwich lifeboat stood by the Roughs Tower until a local fire tug extinguished the fire.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5110244.stm Blaze at offshore military fort BBC 23 June 2006 15 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120530054922/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5110244.stm 30 May 2012 live dmy-all All damage was repaired by November 2006.http://www.churchandeast.co.uk/Sealand%20update%204.html Church and East renovation completion 4 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140304151403/http://www.churchandeast.co.uk/Sealand%20update%204.html dead Church and East Attempted sales In January 2007, The Pirate Bay attempted to purchase Sealand after harsher copyright measures in Sweden forced them to look for a base of operations elsewhere.Graham Flora http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7893223.stm Technology: How The Pirate Bay sailed into infamy BBC News 16 February 2009 9 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090419012716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7893223.stm 19 April 2009 live dmy-all Between 2007 and 2010, Sealand was offered for sale through the Spanish estate company InmoNaranja,Tiny North Sea tax haven for sale http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1823039.htm ABC News 8 January 2007 Sydney, Australia Agence France-Presse 24 March 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110324010702/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1823039.htm at an asking price of €750 million (£600 million, US$906 million).'Smallest state' seeks new owners http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6239967.stm BBC 8 January 2007 8 January 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070110081146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6239967.stm 10 January 2007 live dmy-all £65m price tag for Sealand tenancy http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED06%20Jan%202007%2006%3A41%3A18%3A723 Evening Star Ipswich 6 January 2007 6 January 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070111222049/http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED06%20Jan%202007%2006%3A41%3A18%3A723 11 January 2007For sale, World's smallest country http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/for-sale-worlds-smallest-country/2007/01/08/1168104905597.html The Sydney Morning Herald 8 January 2007 8 January 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070224164904/http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/for-sale-worlds-smallest-country/2007/01/08/1168104905597.html 24 February 2007 live dmy-all Death of founder Roy Bates died at the age of 91 on 9 October 2012; he had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years. He was succeeded by his son Michael.William Yardley https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/world/europe/roy-bates-founder-of-sealand-dies-at-91.html Roy Bates, Bigger-Than-Life Founder of a Micronation, Dies at 91 The New York Times 13 October 2012 13 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121013183850/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/world/europe/roy-bates-founder-of-sealand-dies-at-91.html 13 October 2012 live dmy-all Sonia Van Gilder Cooke http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/12/rip-paddy-roy-bates-the-prince-of-sealand/ RIP Paddy Roy Bates, the Prince of Sealand Time New York 12 October 2012 12 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121015182331/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/12/rip-paddy-roy-bates-the-prince-of-sealand/ 15 October 2012 live dmy-all Joan Bates died in an Essex nursing home at the age of 86 on 10 March 2016.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3493073/The-Princess-Sealand-kingdom-North-Sea-platform-dies-aged-86.html Self-proclaimed ruler of world's smallest independent state dies 17 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160317071101/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3493073/The-Princess-Sealand-kingdom-North-Sea-platform-dies-aged-86.html 17 March 2016 live dmy-all Passport applications Michael Bates has stated that in late 2016 Sealand was receiving hundreds of applications for passports every day.https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/755158/Sealand-passport-applications-Brexit-Donald-Trump Tiny principality of Sealand swamped by passport applications after Brexit and Trump wins 2017-01-17 Express.co.uk en 2019-10-08 Legal status The claim that Sealand is an independent sovereign state is based on an interpretation of a 1968 decision of an English court, in which it was held that Roughs Tower was in international waters and thus outside the jurisdiction of the domestic courts. thumb|Map of Sealand and the United Kingdom, with territorial water claims of 3 and 12 nmi km 0 on shown. In international law, the most common schools of thought for the creation of statehood are the constitutive and declaratory theories of state creation. The constitutive theory is the standard nineteenth-century model of statehood. The constitutive theory posits that a state exists exclusively via recognition by other states. The theory splits on whether this recognition requires diplomatic recognition or merely recognition of existence. No other state grants Sealand official recognition, but Bates argued that negotiations carried out by Germany following a brief hostage incident constituted recognition of existence and, since the German government reportedly sent an ambassador to the tower, diplomatic recognition. The declaratory theory was developed in the twentieth century to address shortcomings of the constitutive theory. In the declaratory theory of statehood, an entity becomes a state as soon as it meets the minimal criteria for statehood. Therefore, recognition by other states is purely declaratory.Ryan John George Dunford Simon Sellars Micronations, The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations Lonely Planet 2006 5–6 1-74104-730-7 In 1987, the UK extended its territorial waters from 3 to 12 nmi km 0. Sealand now sits inside British waters.Ward Mark http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/778267.stm Offshore and offline? BBC News 5 June 2000 9 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090222175031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/778267.stm 22 February 2009 live dmy-all The United Kingdom is one of 165 parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (in force since 1994), which states in Part V, Article 60, that: 'Artificial islands, installations and structures do not possess the status of islands. They have no territorial sea of their own, and their presence does not affect the delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf'. In the opinion of law academic John Gibson, there is little chance that Sealand would be recognised as a nation because it is a man-made structure. In a 1990 court case (and a 1991 appeal) in the United States regarding registering ships in Sealand as a flag of convenience, the court ruled against allowing Sealand flagged vessels; the case was never contested by the Bateses. Administration Irrespective of its legal status, Sealand is managed by the Bates family as if it were a recognised sovereign entity and they are its hereditary royal rulers. Roy Bates styled himself as "Prince Roy" and his wife "Princess Joan". Their son is known as "His Royal Highness Prince Michael" and has been referred to as the "Prince regent" by the Bates family since 1999.http://www.sealandnews.com/the-royal-family/ Information on Sealand's royal family 13 November 2007 Sealand News https://web.archive.org/web/20071112121051/http://www.sealandnews.com/the-royal-family/ 12 November 2007 dead dmy-all In this role, he apparently serves as Sealand's acting "Head of State" and also its "Head of Government".Micronations John Ryan George Dunford Simon Sellars Lonely Planet 2006 1-74104-730-7 8 At a micronations conference hosted by the University of Sunderland in 2004, Sealand was represented by Michael Bates's son James. The facility is now occupied by one or more caretakers representing Michael Bates, who himself resides in Essex, England. Sealand's constitution was instituted in 1974. It consists of a preamble and seven articles.http://www.sealandgov.org The Principality of Sealand – Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness sealandgov.org 6 April 2016 http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20080219111028/http://www.sealandgov.org/ 19 February 2008 live dmy-all The preamble asserts Sealand's independence, while the articles variously deal with Sealand's status as a constitutional monarchy, the empowerment of government bureaux, the role of an appointed, advisory senate, the functions of an appointed, advisory legal tribunal, a proscription against the bearing of arms except by members of a designated "Sealand Guard", the exclusive right of the sovereign to formulate foreign policy and alter the constitution, and the hereditary patrilinear succession of the monarchy.http://www.muu.fi/amorph03/downloads/pdfs/principality_of_sealand.pdf Information on the Principality of Sealand including Bates Family, GDP, Constitution Artists' Association MUU Amorph Summit of Micronations 9 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20050503081033/http://www.muu.fi/amorph03/downloads/pdfs/principality_of_sealand.pdf 3 May 2005 Sealand's legal system is claimed to follow British common law, and statutes take the form of decrees enacted by the sovereign.http://www.sealandgov.com/notices.html The Principality of Sealand statutory notices 27 July 2006 Government of the Principality of Sealand dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060615055239/http://www.sealandgov.com/notices.html 15 June 2006 Sealand has issued "fantasy passports" (as termed by the Council of the European Union), which are not valid for international travel,Council of the European Union – Schengen Visa Working Party – Table of travel documents, p. 36 and holds the Guinness World Record for "the smallest area to lay claim to nation status".Guinness World Records 2008 https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldre000guin registration Guinness World Records 2007 131 978-1-904994-18-3 Sealand's motto is E Mare Libertas (From the Sea, Freedom). It appears on Sealandic items – such as stamps, passports and coins – and is the title of the Sealandic anthem. The anthem was composed by Londoner Basil Simonenko;http://david.national-anthems.net/sea.htm Sealandic National Anthem 15 November 2007 Nationalanthems.info https://web.archive.org/web/20071030044817/http://david.national-anthems.net/sea.htm 30 October 2007 live dmy-all being an instrumental anthem, it does not have lyrics. In 2005, the anthem was recorded by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and released on their CD National Anthems of the World, Vol. 7: Qatar – Syria. thumb|Michael Bates Business operations Sealand has been involved in several commercial operations, including the issuing of coins and postage stamps and the establishment of an offshore Internet hosting facility, or 'data haven'.http://www.economist.com/node/471742 Stop signs on the web; The battle between freedom and regulation on the Internet The Economist 13 January 2001 1 https://web.archive.org/web/20151106220031/http://www.economist.com/node/471742 6 November 2015 liveGrimmelmann James https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/03/sealand-and-havenco/ Death of a data haven: cypherpunks, WikiLeaks, and the world's smallest nation 27 March 2012 Ars Technica live 18 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151018022757/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/03/sealand-and-havenco/ Sealand also publishes an online newspaper, Sealand News.http://www.sealandnews.com Sealand News 11 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071110013151/http://www.sealandnews.com/ 10 November 2007 In addition, a number of amateur athletes 'represent' Sealand in sporting events, including unconventional events like the World Egg Throwing Championship, which the Sealand team won in 2008.Sealand wins sporting accolade http://www.sealandnews.com/sealand-wins-sporting-accolade_207.html Sealand News 30 October 2008 30 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727232041/http://www.sealandnews.com/sealand-wins-sporting-accolade_207.html 27 July 2011 Coins and stamps thumb|Sealandic coins, from left to right: half dollar, silver one dollar and quarter dollar Several dozen different Sealand coins have been minted since 1972. In the early 1990s, Achenbach's German group also produced a coin, featuring a likeness of 'Prime Minister Seiger'.http://www.imperial-collection.net/sealand03.html The Imperial Collection – Principality of Sealand Empire of Atlantium 11 November 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071102083747/http://www.imperial-collection.net/sealand03.html 2 November 2007 Sealand's coins and postage stamps are denominated in 'Sealand dollars', which it deems to be at parity with the US dollar.http://www.sealandgov.org/About.html Principality of Sealand Government of the Principality of Sealand 17 July 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080704190134/http://www.sealandgov.org/About.html 4 July 2008 Sealand first issued postage stamps in 1969, and issues through 1977. No further stamps were produced until 2010. Sealand is not a member of the Universal Postal Union, therefore its inward address is a PO Box in the British borough of Ipswich.http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/addressfinder;jsessionid=I1BCVKJXHDFL0FB2IGEUQEQUHRAYOQ2K?catId=400145&pageId=pcaf_a_one_result_rm&_requestid=116508&gear=postcode Royal Mail address for Sealand Royal Mail 10 November 2007 November 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Once an item is mailed to Sealand's tourist and government office, it will then be taken to Sealand. Sealand only has one street address, The Row.http://www.sealandgov.org/sealand-news/principality-notice-pn-037-10-update-of-visit-and-immigration-regulations Principality Notice PN 037/10: Update of visit and immigration regulations Sealandgov.org 28 September 2010 15 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120522043144/http://www.sealandgov.org/sealand-news/principality-notice-pn-037-10-update-of-visit-and-immigration-regulations 22 May 2012 dead dmy-all A Sealand mailing address looks like this: Bureau of Internal Affairs 5, The Row SEALAND 1001 (c/o Sealand Post Bag, IP11 9SZ, UK) This Felixstowe post code was terminated by the Royal Mail in December 2018.https://www.streetcheck.co.uk/postcode/ip119sz Titles of nobility Sealand also sells titles of individual nobility including Lord, Baron, Count, Duke and those titles' distaff equivalents. Following Roy Bates's 2012 death, Sealand also began publicly offering knighthoods and coats of arms.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-20831502 Ed Sheeran given title of 'baron' 23 December 2012 BBC News 23 January 2018 en-GB https://web.archive.org/web/20180516035144/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-20831502 16 May 2018 live dmy-allhttps://www.sealandgov.org/shop/titles-ids/become-a-duke-or-duchess/ Become a Duke or Duchess Government of Principality of Sealand 31 December 2018 In 1978, following the invasion, the Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Sealand were formed by Prince Roy and Prince Michael to provide for the Principality's defence should it come under threat or attack. In 2012, following the death of Prince Roy, membership in the Order was opened to sale to the general public.Become a Sir / Dame (Knighthood) http://www.sealandgov.org/shop/titles-ids/join-the-knights-of-the-sovereign-military-order-of-sealand/ Sealand Government of the Principality of Sealand 19 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20170123175211/http://www.sealandgov.org/shop/titles-ids/join-the-knights-of-the-sovereign-military-order-of-sealand/ 23 January 2017 live dmy-all HavenCo In 2000, worldwide publicity was created about Sealand following the establishment of a new entity called HavenCo, a data haven, which effectively took control of Roughs Tower itself. Ryan Lackey, Haven's co-founder and a key participant in the country, left HavenCo under acrimonious circumstances in 2002, citing disagreements with the Bates family over management of the company. The HavenCo website went offline in 2008. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/08/sealand-havenco-data-haven-pirate The World's Most Notorious Micronation Has the Secret to Protecting Your Data From the NSA Thomas Stackpole Aug 21, 2013 Mother Jones San Francisco 2014-02-17 Sports Sealand is not recognised by any major international sporting body, and its population is insufficient to maintain a team composed entirely of Sealanders in any team sport. However, Sealand claims to have official national athletes, including non-Sealanders. These athletes take part in various sports, such as curling, mini-golf, football, fencing, ultimate, table football and athletics, although all its teams compete out of the country.http://www.sealandfootball.dk/index.asp Homepage of the Sealand National Football Team 9 November 2007 Sealand National Football Team Danish https://web.archive.org/web/20071030175312/http://www.sealandfootball.dk/index.asp 30 October 2007 dead dmy-all The Sealand National Football Association is an associate member of the Nouvelle Fédération-Board, a football sanctioning body for non-recognised states and states not members of FIFA. It administers the Sealand national football team. In 2004 the national team played its first international game against Åland Islands national football team, drawing 2–2.http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2011/8/3/fantasy-football-micronation-style.html IBWM Fantasy football micronation style 29 February 2012 IBWM https://web.archive.org/web/20120601044750/http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2011/8/3/fantasy-football-micronation-style.html 1 June 2012 live dmy-all thumb|Sealand football team with the Bates family Sealand claims that its first official athlete was Darren Blackburn of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, who was appointed in 2003. Blackburn has represented Sealand at a number of local sporting events, including marathons and off-trail races.http://www.sealandgov.org/sealand-news/principality-notice-pn-025-04-international-sporting-activities-update Principality Notice PN 025/04: International Sporting Activities update 15 November 2007 Government of the Principality of Sealand dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150911231322/http://www.sealandgov.org/sealand-news/principality-notice-pn-025-04-international-sporting-activities-update 11 September 2015 dmy-all In 2004, mountaineer Slader Oviatt carried the Sealandic flag to the top of Muztagh Ata.http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files/docs/hansards/han/legislature_27/session_2/20091124_1930_01_han.pdf#page=5 Bill 50: Electric Statutes Amendment Act, 2009 Alberta Hansard 24 November 2009 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20130926085725/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files/docs/hansards/han/legislature_27/session_2/20091124_1930_01_han.pdf 26 September 2013 live Kenneth R. Kowalski Province of Alberta Edmonton, Canada 63e PDF 0383-3623 Also in 2007, Michael Martelle represented the Principality of Sealand in the World Cup of Kung Fu, held in Quebec City, Canada; bearing the designation of Athleta Principalitas Bellatorius (Principal Martial Arts Athlete and Champion), Martelle won two silver medals, becoming the first-ever Sealand athlete to appear on a world championship podium.http://www.lechinois.ca/agenda/programme%20souvenir2007.pdf Program Souvenir Legal 17 July 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080627061925/http://www.lechinois.ca/agenda/programme%20souvenir2007.pdf 27 June 2008 dead In 2008, Sealand hosted a skateboarding event with Church and East sponsored by Red Bull.http://www.redbullskateboarding.com/articles/2008/10/red-bull-access-all-areas-meet.php Skate Sports Red Bull Redbullskateboarding.com 15 October 2008 9 April 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100105044213/http://www.redbullskateboarding.com/articles/2008/10/red-bull-access-all-areas-meet.php 5 January 2010 http://www.lifepr.de/pressemeldungen/red-bull-deutschland-gmbh/boxid-65339.html Skateboarder erobern Seefestung vor der englischen Küste 29 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081224034153/http://www.lifepr.de/pressemeldungen/red-bull-deutschland-gmbh/boxid-65339.html 24 December 2008 live dmy-all http://www.churchandeast.co.uk/sealand.htm Welcome to Church and East 6 June 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140606201441/http://churchandeast.co.uk/sealand.htm In 2009, Sealand announced the revival of the Sealand Football Association and their intention to compete in a future Viva World Cup. Scottish author Neil Forsyth was appointed as President of the Association.http://www.prlog.org/10463176-principality-of-sealand-to-have-national-football-team.html Principality of Sealand to have National Football Team PR Log 23 December 2009 6 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727194201/http://www.prlog.org/10463176-principality-of-sealand-to-have-national-football-team.html 27 July 2011 live dmy-all Sealand played the second game in their history against Chagos Islands on 5 May 2012, losing 3–1. The team included actor Ralf Little and former Bolton Wanderers defender Simon Charlton.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17981522 Ralf Little gets an international cap for Sealand https://web.archive.org/web/20160306040420/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17981522 6 March 2016 7 May 2012 In 2009 and 2010, Sealand sent teams to play in various ultimate club tournaments in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. They came 11th at UK nationals in 2010.http://www.glasgowultimate.co.uk/index.php/reports/principality-of-sealand-2010-review/ Principality of Sealand 2010 Review Glasgow Ultimate 10 February 2011 WebFox 14 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20131219083619/http://www.glasgowultimate.co.uk/index.php/reports/principality-of-sealand-2010-review/ 19 December 2013 live dmy-all In 2012 Sealand was represented in the flat track variant of roller derby, by a team principally composed of skaters from the South Wales area.http://www.sealandgov.org/announcements/sealand-to-form-roller-derby-team Sealand to form roller derby team Sealand official website 10 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120508022809/http://www.sealandgov.org/announcements/sealand-to-form-roller-derby-team 8 May 2012 dead dmy-all Sealand played a friendly match in aid of charity against an "All Stars" team from Fulham F.C. on 18 May 2013, losing 5–7.https://web.archive.org/web/20130905074742/http://www.fulhamfc.com/tickets/misc/fulham-all-stars-v-sealand-all-stars 5 September 2013 http://www.fulhamfc.com/tickets/misc/fulham-all-stars-v-sealand-all-stars Sealand will play Fulham F.C. in a friendly match on May 18th, 2013. 17 May 2013http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/18/all-stars Fulham All Stars 7-5 Sealand All Stars 18 May 2013 18 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130915011319/http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/18/all-stars 15 September 2013 live dmy-all On 22 May 2013, the mountaineer Kenton Cool placed a Sealand flag at the summit of Mount Everest.Ben Fogle Ben Fogle Benfogle 340383866076426240 31 May 2013 Lord Fogle of Sealand thanks @kentoncool for taking the @sealandgov flag to Everest. @edsheeran gig next? Please Ed in 2015, the runner Simon Messenger ran a half-marathon on Sealand as part of his "round the world in 80 runs" challenge.https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2015/sep/11/how-i-ran-a-half-marathon-on-sealand-the-fortress-nation-in-the-middle-of-the-sea How I ran a half marathon on Sealand, the fortress 'nation' in the middle of the sea Messenger Simon 11 September 2015 the Guardian en 10 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162515/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2015/sep/11/how-i-ran-a-half-marathon-on-sealand-the-fortress-nation-in-the-middle-of-the-sea 12 June 2018 live dmy-all In 2018 competitive swimmer Richard Royal became the first person to swim the 12 km from Sealand to the mainland, finishing in 3 hrs 29 mins. Royal visited the platform before the swim, getting his passport stamped. He entered the water from the 'bosuns chair', signalling the start of the swim, and finished on Felixstowe beach. It was accredited as an inaugural and therefore current world and British record by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA)https://twitter.com/LionheartRoyal/status/1039817799802265600 and the British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA).https://twitter.com/LionheartRoyal/status/1069955276017684485 Royal was subsequently awarded with a Sealand Knighthood by Prince Michael.http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/swimmer-knighted-after-sealand-venture-1-5674709 Arise Sir Richard: Sealand swimmer knighted 2 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180831122825/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/swimmer-knighted-after-sealand-venture-1-5674709 31 August 2018 live dmy-all The swim was the subject of a short documentary film entitled Escape from Sealand.April 2019 References