A crew of 70 wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans and serving personnel havecompleted a historic 2,000-mile voyage around the UK in two traditionally rigged tall ships, Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew, after safely returning to Falmouth today (11 June) for the conclusion of the Full Circle Expedition.
Over 12 weeks and two days, the vessel visited 22 ports across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, carrying the Invictus Games flag, helping to build momentum towards Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.
The voyage has been coordinated by veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard and delivered in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, is raising funds to transform the lives of wounded, injured and sick veterans facing challenges such as PTSD, physical injury, isolation and loss of confidence.
The expedition has been welcomed home at a public celebration in Falmouth, with the ships escorted into the harbour by a flotilla of vessels with the Invictus Games flag being transported by Jet Suit to Pendennis Castleby Richard Browning of Gravity Industries and raised for the last time on the expedition to mark one year to go before the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.
Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games is an international adaptive sporting event that uses competitive sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation of WIS service personnel and veterans, bringing together nations from around the world to share their journeys of resilience.
Dave Phillips, 67, a former soldier with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment who served from 1975 to 1989, completed four legs of the Full Circle Expedition, covering more than 1,334 miles at sea and progressing from beneficiary to crew member.
The expedition marked a deeply personal journey for Dave, who has lived with PTSD, anxiety and depression following a 1982 bomb attack in West Belfast in which several soldiers were injured, including his friend, Lance Bombardier Kevin Waller, who later died, and two children lost their lives.
Years later, after the loss of his partner and several close friends, Dave’s mental health declined to the point he found himself standing on a cliff edge contemplating ending his life. “I remember thinking one more step and it’s done,” he said. “Thankfully, I walked away and started getting help.”
“I come from a generation where men didn’t talk about how they were feeling. I kept everything boxed up until eventually it all came out, and I couldn’t cope with it anymore. For years, I didn’t even realise there was a problem because in the Army you stayed busy, got on with the job, and there was very little support.”
Through support from Turn to Starboard, Dave found the confidence to speak openly about his experiences.“For over 40 years I kept everything locked away. The Full Circle Expedition has been life-changing and gave me the chance to finally face the past- that’s why it’s so important that men speak up and ask for help before things reach breaking point.”
Dave dedicated his voyage on the expedition to Kevin and described the experience at sea as transformativeand life changing. “Being surrounded by like-minded people, laughing and joking again, I felt like the old me had come back– I’ve not laughed like that in a very long time.”
As part of the expedition, Dave returned to Belfast for the first time since the incident, completing what he describes as his own ‘full circle’ journey. “Going back made me realise I didn’t need to be afraid anymore. This expedition has given me hope, happiness and something to look forward to again.”
He added: “Turn to Starboard and the Full Circle Expedition brought me back to life, they made me feel at home, gave me the confidence to challenge myself, train as crew, and I’m now aiming to become a Yacht master. I’ve now faced my demons and got my sense of worth back”
The expedition’s impact has extended beyond those on board, covered in over 300 press articles reaching millions about the importance of supporting our veterans and physically engaging more than 2,600 people across the UK, including 1219 young people, 561 veterans and 834 members of the public through a programme of community events and activities.
The expedition departed from Falmouth’s Port Pendennis Marina back on 17 March and took 12 weeks and two days. Sailing anticlockwise around the UK, Full Circle visited 22 ports across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales before returning to Falmouth on 11 June.
The voyage has been building momentum towards the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 one-year-to-go event at the NEC in July 2026.
The voyage is also raising £300,000 to enable Turn to Starboard to purchase a second tall ship, so that the charity can support more veterans facing challenges such as PTSD, physical injury, isolation and loss of confidence. To donate to Full Circle, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/t2sfullcircle
Sally Terry, CEO of Turn to Starboard said: “The T2S Full Circle Expedition was always an ambitious undertaking, but it has exceeded all expectations. It has tested the resilience of both the crews and the Turn to Starboard team, while demonstrating the transformative power of non-clinical therapeutic adventure in veteran recovery.
“Full Circle has shown how adventure-based programmes can complement or even replace clinical support by helping individuals focus on their strengths, potential and future opportunities. Throughout the voyage I have seen firsthand how lifelong bonds have been formed, lost confidence has been rediscovered and lives have been transformed.
“Turn to Starboard is committed to building on the legacy of Full Circle, empowering more veterans to discover purpose, embrace new challenges and navigate life with intention, confidence and fulfilment.”
Paul Miller, Army veteran and skipper of Spirit of Falmouth, said: “Being part of this expedition has filled 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 has beendeeply meaningful. It represents courage, determination and community – values that we must hold on to after military service ends.
“Taking the Invictus Flag on this journey feels especially meaningful. It carries the hopes of so many people rebuilding their lives through courage and community. Seeing Turn to Starboard and the Invictus Games come together in this way is powerful – every mile we sail, and every donation raised, helps build resilience and support the veteran community.
“Full Circle forms part of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Impact Programme. Through teamwork, challenge and time at sea, the expedition has helped inspire the recovery and rehabilitation of WIS veterans who are suffering from trauma as a result of their service.”
Captain Lee Hazard RN, Director of Special Projects, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome home the Full Circle Sailing Expedition crew. With the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Flag onboard, these remarkable veterans – led by Turn to Starboard – have drawn on their skills, resilience and teamwork to complete an extraordinary journey around the UK.
“They should be incredibly proud not only of completing their mission and progressing in their own recovery journeys, but also of the wider impact they have made in sharing their stories, and in doing so, helping to inspire and support countless more facing similar challenges.”
