Veterans find comradeship at sea on UK‑wide voyage

Two tall ships crewed by armed forces veterans rebuilding their lives after service have docked in Leith.

Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew are being sailed by a rotating crew of 70 wounded, injured and sick veterans and serving personnel on a 12-week expedition around the UK.

Darren Ames served in the Army for more than two decades and says the trip has given him a new lease of life after years of living with PTSD.

The veteran, from Airdrie, was discharged after 20 years’ service after suffering serious back and knee injuries while serving in Kosovo and Iraq with the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

His condition led him to become reclusive and also led to the breakdown of his marriage.

He told STV News: “I didn’t leave my house for so many years.

“Every night was a challenge. Getting up in the morning was a challenge.

“I’d go to my bed and not get out for four or five days because I had nothing.

“It doesn’t affect you when you’re with your guys – everything’s just fine. It’s when you get out, that’s the hard bit. You’ve had no help really.

“You’re just like, ‘what am I going to do now?’ That’s the hardest bit.”

Veterans aboard one of the tall ships STV News

He said being on the boat with fellow veterans has helped boost his mental health.

“It does help – you’re back in that comradeship with other soldiers.

“This is what this trip is about: helping people like myself with mental problems.

“I’ve now got a different purpose for life – hopefully I can keep it on.”

Former military personnel Jennie and Peter Reeve, both 74, have been married for over 50 years and joined the expedition together.

“I loved the comradeship and the fun we had. In some ways it’s so healing. It builds you up,” Jennie said.

“It’s like rebooting your head, it’s so therapeutic. You can feel it happening to yourself.”

Peter added: “When you’re in the middle of a rough bit of sea, you feel a big arm around you saying, ‘hang on in there’.

“We’re all checking on each other, seeing if someone’s sad or hasn’t eaten yet. We’ve all got problems – it’s just how you deal with them. We all try and help each other.

“I’ve made some close friends. I didn’t even know their names a few weeks ago and now I could say, ‘come stay with us as long as you’d like’.”

The expedition is coordinated by veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard and delivered in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.

It is crewed by a rotating group of 70 wounded, injured and sick veterans, sailing 2,000 nautical miles around the UK, transporting the Invictus Games Flag to 22 ports while engaging local veteran communities and marking the countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.

Turn To Starboard CEO Sally Terry said: “It’s about bringing people together. It’s a proper adventure and an extraordinary opportunity to share stories and experiences, and the challenges people are struggling with.

“It’s not always plain sailing – it’s exciting, there’s a bit of drama and a hint of danger. What happens at sea is incredibly powerful.”

The voyage aims to raise £300,000 to allow Turn to Starboard to purchase a second tall ship, enabling the charity to support more veterans affected by PTSD, physical injury, isolation and a loss of confidence.

Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games is an international adaptive sporting event using competitive sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from around the world.

Full Circle set sail from Falmouth on March 17, 2026 and will travel anticlockwise around the UK before returning on June 11, 2026.