Full Circle Expedition sets sail around UK with Invictus Games Flag
Two traditionally rigged tall ships, Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew, crewed by a rotating team of 70 wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans and serving personnel, have set sail from Falmouth, Port Pendennis Marina, as part of the 2,000-mile Full Circle Expedition around the UK.
The voyage is coordinated by veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard and delivered in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.
Predicted to take around 12 weeks, Full Circle will travel anticlockwise around the UK, stopping at 22 ports in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, before returning to Falmouth on 11 June 2026. The voyage will carry the Invictus Games Flag around the UK, building momentum towards the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 one-year-to-go event at the NEC in July 2026.
Before their departure, the Invictus Games Flag was formerly raised outside the Falmouth Coastguard Station to mark the start of the expedition, with crew joining dignitaries at the Maritime Museum for a pre voyage informal dinner and music. Pellow and Spirit of Falmouth departed at 10:00am on Tuesday 17th, escorted by the full Turn to Starboard fleet, marked by the firing of the cannons at Pendennis Castle as they crossed the bay.
Sally Terry, CEO of Turn to Starboard said:
“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. 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. 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. We can’t wait to bring this inspiring message to Falmouth later this month to reach more veterans and highlight their challenges and remarkable achievements.”
The journey is divided into five legs, with a crew changeover for each one: Falmouth to Chatham, Chatham to Edinburgh, Edinburgh to Oban, Oban to Liverpool, and Liverpool back to Falmouth. For those hoping to catch the departure, organisers recommend watching the departure from the viewing area at Pendennis Castle at 10:00am along with members of the expedition’s shore-based team.
Paul Miller, Army veteran and skipper of Spirit of Falmouth, said:
“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. 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 Strategy. Through teamwork, challenge and time at sea, the expedition will help 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:
“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.”
