The Royal Navy is looking to train officers under sail for the first time in decades by chartering a tall ship.
Experts believe the unique experience of crewing a traditional sailing vessel around the British Isles will teach vital navigational skills and nurture a strong bond of teamwork and community spirit integral to life in the Royal Navy.
Several trials have taken place this year on the British-flagged square rigged Sail Training Ship Pelican of London, with sailors experiencing sailing in the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel and visiting Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, said Lieutenant Commander David Carter, the Royal Navy’s liaison officer with the Merchant Navy, who is now hoping to charter a similar vessel for nine months in 2026, giving hundreds of trainee officers and sailors the unique experience.
The initiative would mostly benefit would-be warfare officers waiting to begin their demanding courses.
With space limited on Royal Navy warships, some of the key elements of practical, real-world instruction could be delivered on a sailing vessel.
Lt Cdr Carter said Pelican of London was a “fabulous ship for instilling Royal Navy ethos and concentrating on training value”, hosting up to 32 trainees and four instructors at a time.
“It’s also a morale lifter, a truly fabulous experience for many starting at sea.”
While the tall ship may lack the technology and sensors of a modern warship, the fundamentals of seafaring are identical, and the experience of crewing such a ship has fostered a strong sense of teamwork and boosted morale.
The latest batch of junior officers – both Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary – helped bring Pelican of London into Dartmouth this week after battering through a Force 8 gale in the Channel.