Seventy wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans and serving personnel have embarked on a 2,000-mile Full Circle Expedition around the United Kingdom. The veterans will be rotating crew aboard two traditionally-rigged sailing yachts, the 28-metre (total LOA) gaff-rigged schooner Spirit of Falmouth and the 27-metre (total LOA) pilot cutter Pellew.
The expedition is expected to take around 12 weeks, travelling anticlockwise around the UK, and kick-started on 17 March in Falmouth, Cornwall. The veterans will stop at 22 ports in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, before returning to the Cornish town on 11 June 2026.
Organised by veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard, the voyage will be undertaken in partnership with the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games has become established as an international adaptive sporting event, supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of WIS service personnel and veterans through competitive sport.
The Full Circle Expedition forms part of the Invictus Games Impact Programme, designed to help inspire the recovery and rehabilitation of veterans suffering from trauma as a result of their service. In solidarity, the veterans will carry the flag for the Invictus Games around their UK voyage to build momentum towards the 2027 edition and the Games' "one-year-to-go" event in July.
Going one step further, the expedition will also be raising £300,000 to enable Turn to Starboard to purchase a second sailing yacht to support more veterans facing challenges such as PTSD, physical injury, isolation and loss of confidence.
“This expedition brings together two organisations committed to empowering veterans through challenge, camaraderie and community, each united in the belief that adventure can be truly transformative," said Sally Terry, CEO of Turn to Starboard. “While Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 harnesses the spirit of sport to inspire recovery and rehabilitation, Turn to Starboard draws on the unique challenges of life at sea to rebuild confidence, restore purpose and help veterans navigate life with intention and fulfilment.
Terry continued: “More than a voyage, this expedition is a powerful story of courage, service and renewal, showing how adventure and the sea can heal, inspire and bring people together.”
Paul Miller, Army veteran and skipper of Spirit of Falmouth, added: “Being part of this expedition fills me with real pride. It has reminded me how far I’ve come in my own recovery and how much further we can all go together. Sailing the Invictus Games Flag around the UK is deeply meaningful. It represents courage, determination and community - values that we must hold on to after military service ends.”
Captain Lee Hazard, RN, director of Special Projects for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, concluded: “With the Invictus Games Flag onboard, these remarkable veterans, led by Turn to Starboard, will utilise their military skills to sail with purpose and skill. Full Circle shows that recovery doesn’t only happen on the field of play - it happens through challenge, connection and community. As we build towards Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, the Full Circle Expedition is helping the nation see the strength and resilience of those who serve today and those who have served before them.”
To follow the veterans on their expedition, visit Turn to Starboard.