Turn to Starboard’s Full Circle: Invictus Games UK Voyage

The Full Circle expedition will sail roughly 2,000 miles in five planned legs over a 12-week timetable, departing Falmouth in March 2026 and returning in June, using two traditionally-rigged tall ships—Pellew and Spirit of Falmouth—to carry a crew of 70 wounded, injured, or sick veterans. This routing follows an anti-clockwise transit of the UK’s coastal waters and requires precise port-call coordination, crew rotations, medical readiness, and logistics for onshore support at multiple marinas and anchorages.

Expedition overview and objectives

The expedition, organised by Falmouth-based veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, is designed as both a therapeutic sailing programme and a public engagement campaign. Over 12 weeks the voyage aims to demonstrate how teamwork under sail can rebuild confidence and community for veterans facing issues such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, physical injury, unemployment and isolation.

Sally Terry, expedition lead and CEO of Turn to Starboard, frames the trip as a “powerful story of courage, service and renewal,” noting the sea’s capacity to inspire rehabilitation through shared purpose aboard traditional rigs. Record-setting sailor Craig Wood, the first triple amputee to solo across the Pacific, supports the project publicly, lending profile to recruitment, fundraising, and safety messaging.

Itinerary and operational logistics

Vessel provisioning, medical supplies, and shore-side transit will be coordinated at each stop. Turn to Starboard plans to crew both ships from its experienced volunteer cadre with Dan Fielding, former Royal Marine and Chief Operating Officer, acting as skipper on one leg. Each port call will require liaison with local marinas, customs where applicable, and charity partners for onshore events.

Crew composition, safety and therapeutic aims

The 70-person veteran crews will be supported by trained skippers, medical personnel, and outreach staff. The project emphasises non-clinical therapy through practical seamanship: sail handling, navigation, watchkeeping, and shared chores create a framework for social reintegration and confidence-building. Training and risk assessment are central to accommodating wounded and injured participants aboard tall ships, where stability, access, and on-deck safety are managed continuously.

• Medical readiness: onboard first-aid, evacuation plans, and coordination with local hospitals.
• Accessibility: adaptations and procedures to support physical injuries and mobility limits.
• Psychosocial support: peer groups, mentoring, and onshore follow-up.

Funding, fleet ambitions and public engagement

Turn to Starboard aims to raise $300,000 to underwrite running costs, participant support, and the charity’s aspiration to add another tall ship to its fleet—referred to in campaign materials as acquiring the Pellow. Funds will target direct veteran support and the practical costs of operating two big sailing vessels across extensive coastal distances.

Public engagement is central: the expedition will sail under the Invictus Games flag and act as a lead-in to the 2027 Games in Birmingham. The voyage is expected to attract media, local community events at each port, and social content shared via @fullcirclet2s on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to amplify fundraising and awareness.

Who benefits and how the sea contributes

The beneficiaries are injured, sick and wounded veterans who gain practical seafaring skills, peer networks, and renewed purpose. The sea environment provides controlled challenge and measurable outcomes in teamwork, resilience and employability; these outcomes can be meaningful to coastal communities, marinas, and volunteer networks that engage with participants during port calls.

Implications for sailing, charter and the rental market

Large-scale community voyages like Full Circle have indirect effects on the wider boating and tourism market. They raise public interest in maritime activities, spotlight the role of marinas and coastal destinations, and can increase demand for short-term charters, sail training and accessible boating options. Prospective sailors seeking therapeutic or skills-focused experiences may look to decked charters, flotillas, or skippered trips—segments that platforms and charter companies can highlight in their offerings.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The platform values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course—placing no limits on a good life and helping clients find a vessel to match preferences, budget, and taste.

Highlights of the expedition include the scale of the voyage, the therapeutic model using traditional tall ships, and the collaboration with the Invictus Games movement. Experiencing a new coastal location is always multifaceted; one learns about local culture, nature, and the palette of regional colours—its rhythm of life and service nuances. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

Forecasts on how this voyage could influence the global tourism map are modest but meaningful: it is unlikely to shift worldwide patterns, yet it reinforces coastal tourism’s resilience and the value of specialised nautical experiences in destination marketing. However, the story is significant to customers who value purpose-driven travel; GetBoat aims to stay abreast of such developments and keep pace with the changing world. If you are planning your next trip to the seaside, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat.

In summary, the Full Circle tall-ship expedition combines long-range logistics, therapeutic objectives, and public engagement across a 2,000-mile coastal route, showcasing the restorative power of sail. For sailors and holidaymakers, the voyage underlines the diversity of coastal experiences—from marinas to remote anchorages—and highlights opportunities in yacht charter, day sailing, and sail-training. GetBoat.com supports these themes by offering a global, user-friendly solution for booking or buying vessels—yacht, charter, boat, sailboat—providing transparency in make, model, ratings and clear options for every budget and taste. Book your boat today.