Nick Knowles announced as Exercise TRANSGLOBE Ambassador

Exercise Transglobe yachts and crews in training yesterday © Clive Cooper

Leg 1: Portsmouth/Southsea – Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Distance: 1620nm

In what is likely to be an emotional scene at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth tomorrow (Saturday) morning 11 July, VIP guests, patrons, celebrity supporters and the media will join friends and families of the ‘first leggers’ taking part in the UK’s largest-ever Adventurous Training Exercise, TRANSGLOBE, to wave goodbye as the Leg 1 crews set off for the Canary Islands in the first of 13 stages of this seafaring expedition.

These crew members, as with all 546 personnel taking part in this extraordinary sailing exercise, very much reflect the mixed ages, gender and ranks sailing aboard the three identical 67ft steel hulled yachts named ADVENTURE (Royal Navy), CHALLENGER (Army) and DISCOVERER (Royal Air Force) as they progress around the world over the course of the next 12 months.

Prior to slipping their moorings at Gunwharf Quays and mustering off the start line at Southsea Castle, the yachts and crews will receive a blessing during a short service on the quayside from Chaplain Bernard Clarke (Chaplain, Portsmouth Naval Base).

As the yachts jostle for position on the start line, TV presenter Nick Knowles will be positioned up on the Southsea Castle Keep ready to fire the starting cannon at 13:00 hours. Built in 1544, Southsea Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by Henry VIII around England's coasts to protect the country from invaders. Barely was the work completed when Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, tragically sank in front of the Castle.

The skippers and crew service personnel who have signed up for this great adventure, some of whom have recently returned from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, will experience the thrills, spills and chills of ocean sailing. Some have only just joined up and many have hardly ever been on a boat before. Most crews will be changing over on completion of each of the 13 legs during the 12-month exercise.

Selected crews will represent their respective Service in both the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the 2010 Antigua Race Week, pitting themselves against each other and the cream of the world’s professional race teams.

There are two Medical First Aid at Sea (MFAS), Medical Casualty at Sea (MCAS) qualified sailors on board each boat and there are 23 doctors and nurses sailing on various legs throughout TRANSGLOBE. In May 2010, Leg 11 in particular, includes the husband and wife team Doctor Daniel Petrie and Doctor Cassie Petrie, on board the RAF yacht Discoverer.

Each yacht will carry 12 sails, enough emergency rations for 10 days and they will go through approximately 51,000 tea bags and 122kg of coffee. They will dispense with 5616 toilet rolls and eat 390kg of rice.

Help for Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Programme

Of particular note is Leg 11 in May 2010, a 1200nm voyage between Antigua and Charleston where each yacht will include service personnel recovering from wounds received in recent military operations and some medical support staff, all from Headley Court and the Help for Heroes initiative. Individuals may have lost limbs in combat but they are determined to prove themselves as effective members of their respective crews in all respects. On arrival at Charleston they will be conducting joint land based Adventurous Training with members of the US Forces Wounded Warrior programme.

This Exercise will re-affirm to members of the Armed Forces and the wider public that the Armed Forces are committed to the personal development of every sailor, soldier and airman regardless of rank or gender to reach their full potential. It will also serve as a demonstration of the superb Adventurous Training opportunities and facilities available to all service personnel throughout their careers.

Follow their progress at www.exercisetransglobe.com