Two traditionally-rigged tall ships, Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew, crewed by a rotating team of 70 wounded, injured and sick veterans (WIS) and serving personnel, have sailed into Hull today (Tuesday, April 14) as part of the Full Circle Expedition.
The expedition, coordinated by veteran sailing charity Turn to Starboard and delivered in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, aims to raise £300,000 so the charity can purchase a second tall ship to support more veterans facing PTSD, physical injury, isolation and a loss of confidence. 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.
Full Circle set sail from Falmouth in March to travel anticlockwise around the UK, stopping at 22 ports in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, before returning to Falmouth in June. 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.
The crew is being welcomed into Hull for two days, during which time the Invictus Flag will be handed over to the city and raised to honour the crew, local veterans and all of those competing at the Invictus Games. Formalities will also include a private tour of the ships for local dignitaries, a visit to the ships by Hull Sea Cadets, a morning onboard the ships with members of the local Armed Forces community; and an opportunity for the public to also have a tour aboard the two vessels.
Hull Live photographer Donna Clifford has been capturing the arrival of the tall ships – see our gallery of her pictures below.
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