Ex HIGHLAND EXPRESS 25 was a ULOTC Offshore Sailing expedition delivered over nine days using JSASTC yachts based in Oban. Over the duration of the expedition, OCdts completed their RYA Competent Crew qualification, in a challenging environment, enjoying the unique geography that Scotland provides. This pushed them out of their comfort zone and testing their leadership skills all the while allowing an escape from the academic rigors of their university degree. We are grateful for the continued support from the Ulysses Trust and look forward to the future opportunities we can provide together!
Exped Diary
Monday 14 July â OCdt Pangaro: Our trip began with the deployment of the crew and skipper from London to Oban on the West coast of Scotland. This often-overlooked part of the journey was key in giving the crew time to get to know each other before spending a week together on a thirty-four-foot yacht. We also faced our first challenge as some âpolice crime scene tapeâ had managed to fly over from a nearby motorway and lodge itself in the overhead cables delaying our train and leading us to take a rail replacement taxi to Oban. However, the crew were able to remain in high spirits and used the delay to talk about expectations and aims for the journey.
Upon making it to Oban we were able to meet and grab a bite to eat with the skipper where he ran us through the general plan for the week and some pointers to prepare us for taking over our boat, the mysterious Pochard IX, at dawn. A night in a hostel provided the best sleep we would have for the next few days, and the team emerged full of anticipation for a weekâs sailing.
Tuesday 15 July â OCdt Goulding: We started our first day of training with a trip to the Wetherspoons for breakfast where some of us tried haggis for the first time! We then collected our food shop for the week before making our way to Dunstaffnage where we were handed over the boat and could settle in for the trip. We spent the day going over inventory and some of the introductory training to set us up for the rest of the trip, which included practicing coming along side and lots of knot tying practice!
We then headed to bed early due to our plan to sail overnight to give us the next day to explore.
Wednesday 16 July â OCdt Sprague: The day began at 0030hrs when we emerged from our bunks to prepare our yacht, Pochard, for departure. By 0100hrs, we slipped lines and set off from Dunstaffnage Marina under a clear, star-speckled sky.âŻ
With the sails staying firmly down due to the lack of wind, we used the motor to head northwards. Despite the lack of sailing, spirits remained high, and the early hours brought their own rewards. A pod of dolphins joined us at sunrise, playfully escorting us into the Sound of Mull – just in time to distract us from a rather turbulent entrance into the channel.
By 0700hrs, we berthed in Tobermory, greeted by the cheerful rows of colourful houses. The morning was spent improving our man overboard procedures and brushing up on theory. These activities were followed by some essential cultural immersion â a visit to a local cheese and spirit farm.
In the afternoon, we hiked a scenic coastal path to a nearby lighthouse, taking in the history and charm of the Inner Hebrides before returning to Pochard to cook dinner and begin our dinghy training. Unfortunately, we entered the water with the dinghy underinflated, and with jellyfish lurking below in their hundreds, we did our best to avoid a soggy, stingy misstep!
Finally, we prepped the sails for a (hopefully) windy day ahead, turned in early, and drifted off with high hopes for some sailing tomorrow.
Thursday 17 July â OCdt Lazanakis: We set off early from Tobermory, heading towards the Isle of Muck. Upon arrival, we took some time to explore the local gift shop and community centre, which offered a charming glimpse into island life. Our journey continued to the Isle of Eigg, where we hiked up to the ridge of An SgĂčrr. From there, we made our way to the Isle of Rum. We toured Kinloch Castle before dropping by the local community centre. At the Isle of Canna, we anchored and organised an anchor watch.
While sailing between the islands, we honed key seamanship skills, practicing man overboard drills, setting up the jibe preventer, and learning how to set the anchor properly. At first, these tasks felt daunting, but with repetition and teamwork, they began to feel natural. It was rewarding to see how quickly we adapted and supported one another through each challenge.
Friday 18 July â OCdt Goulding: As we had to put down the anchor for the night, we were all up early on the fifth day to take an hour of anchor watch overnight and into the morning. Luckily our anchor held, and we then headed off for Mallaig that morning. Along the way we got some good practice of the RYA man overboard drill, which by this point we were all feeling more confident with. We were also introduced to and practiced another faster method.
The early start to sailing meant we arrived in Mallaig in the early afternoon, giving us the afternoon to explore. Our stops included the Harry Potter shop, gift and book shops as well as a cafe with some delicious cake! A couple of us then went for a short walk to explore the area, then we went back to the boat for food and an early night after another long day.
Saturday 19 July â OCdt Pangaro: Whatâs the story of our trip to Tobermory? Wouldnât you like to know. Our day began in Mallaig on the mainland, where the nightâs stay in a marina provided much improved facilities over the previous night, as well as the promise of a full nightâs sleep without the need for an anchor watch. We set off at 0600 with a calm sea and weak winds at times forcing us to motor along. These calm seas however, proved ideal for some swimming and the crew were able to get in the water alongside some curious dolphins. The gentle passage also provided an opportunity for us to practice some skills and drills such as reefing sails and the actions to take if someone were to fall overboard. All these were accompanied with the magnificent sights and sounds of the Hebrides and some very friendly locals (notably whales, seals, and dolphins).
After coming alongside at 1400 the crew had some time to catch up on some sleep before heading for our cultural visit to the Tobermory distillery, one of the few grey buildings in the otherwise colourful town that served as the backdrop for the Balamory television show. The crew had the opportunity to sample some whiskey and learn a lot about its history and manufacture and the meaning behind terms such as peated, scotch, and malt. A lovely dinner of chilli con veggie carne and a brief trip to the local rounded out a delightful day packed with learning, both on and off the boat.
Sunday 20 July â OCdt Sprague: We departed Tobermory at 0700 hrs under light winds (force 1â3), which meant much of the passage was spent under engine power. The sea remained relatively calm until we reached a confluence in the Sound of Mull where three bodies of water met. At this point, the conditions became significantly livelier, and the boat adopted an angle of heel steeper than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Needless to say, we held on tightly and enjoyed a spirited stretch of sailing.
Upon arrival into the Oban Bay area, we conducted man overboard drills and practiced reefing the sails. After mooring up securely, we ventured into town to explore the local shops and we climbed up McCaigâs Tower, where we were rewarded with panoramic views over Oban Bay. I then decided to go for a run through the Scottish countryside. This proved both scenic and unexpectedly eventful, as a group of sheep chased me back to the boat!
We concluded the day with a crew meal in town to celebrate our final full day on the water. As we looked back on our favourite moments of the expedition, the mood became more sombre as thoughts turned to the following day … the yacht deep clean.
Monday 21 July â OCdt Lazanakis: We departed Oban at 10:00 and made our way towards Dunstaffnage Marina. Along the way, we were treated to a final farewell from one of the local seals. After docking at Dunstaffnage, we began preparing the boat for a thorough end-of-trip clean. A quick rota was drawn up, dividing tasks between cleaning the deck, toilet, cabins, galley, and hull. Following a short lunch break, we resumed cleaning well into the late afternoon.
The evening was spent on personal admin and a visit to a local restaurant for some evening treats and, by the end of the day, we felt confident and proud to hand over a well-maintained yacht to the next crew.
Tuesday 22 July â OCdt Goulding: Our final day started with us emptying out the boat in time for the handover to the next crew. Scarlett tried to distribute the remaining food in an auction style, however the success of this was limited by the thought of carrying extra weight for the long journey ahead! After crew photos on the boat, we headed for our third âspoonsâ trip of the expedition in Oban.âŻ
The train from Oban to Glasgow had incredibly scenic views the whole journey, including across Lock Lomond which we had last seen from the taxi on the drive up. On the way to the next train station in Glasgow we made a slight detour to add in a final cultural visit to the Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington.âŻ
We made it back to London with only a 17-minute delay, which seemed insignificant compared to the fiasco on the way up! We then all made our final journey home after a great expedition with lots of memories!
Novice Report â OCdt Garg
Overview of expedition: Highland Express was a sailing AT exped, from July 14th to 22nd 2025. Our yacht consisted of 5 ULOTC OCdts (Pangaro, Sprague, Garg, Lazanakis and Goulding) and our Skipper, Kelvyn Sauvary. Our exped, on the HR34 Yacht Pochard began in Dunstaffnage, before setting sail to Tobermory, Muck, Eigg, Rum, Canna, Mallaig, returning to Tobermory, Oban and Dunstaffnage. This cumulated to 7 days on the water, including both day and night sailing hours. We sailed early in the mornings/ through the night, to allow us to explore each island to the fullest, making use of the light and business hours.
Feelings at the start: I felt rather nervous, having not sailed, rowed or spent any time on the water- all I had was my swimming skills! I knew that some parts of sailing could be quite technical, hence I reserved some worry that I wouldnât be able to pick these skills up. In terms of the people side of things, I felt anxious as I didnât know my crewmates well and was conscious that quarrels may arise due to the forced proximity or clashing personalities. However, worries aside, I was very excited to learn new skills and experience what is to be one of the most beautiful parts of our world.
During the expedition: Once weâd set sail, I found that I picked up many skills fast but also found my weaknesses quickly. Having not come across them before, knots were a struggle for me. I found that taking some time during transits to practise was useful. I often took a spare fender and practised under the guidance of more confident crewmates or skipper till I got it right. On the human side, I found that there were moments of clashing personalities, but I grew to appreciate that it wasnât always a bad thing. It meant I often had to take on a âparticipantâ instead of a âpilotâ role either because I needed to build confidence on the subject matter or to better suit the group dynamic by taking the quieter role. I did not struggle, though, to take the lead when needed, especially in the galley as I found natural confidence there.
Reflections after the exped: Iâve learnt so much, not only about the technical mechanisms of sailing and the various bits of kit but also the environment, learning how to read charts, becoming wind aware and predicting and understanding why we have certain weather. The achievement from newbie to comp crew in just 7 days was a remarkable achievement for me. Not only did I form personal connections with my crewmates, I became more self-aware and subconsciously developed a skill in reading the dynamic in different situations. I feel very privileged to see breathtaking sights and all kinds of wildlife, including but not limited to, puffins, dolphins and seals! My favourite memories include jumping in the still water and swimming with jellyfish and dolphins near and when our tender (which we fondly called the Pocharged) floated away during an anchor night and we had to carry out a ârescue missionâ in the morning to retrieve it. All in all, Iâm glad I went- I had a brilliant time and will go on to praise this exped back at the unit and encourage others to join!
A tribute to the skipper: Kelvyn Sauvary was our exped skipper, and he couldnât have been a better fit for our crew. Having spent many years with ULOTC before leaving in 2022, he understood not just sailing, but us – where we come from and what we represent. As an offshore skipper, his depth of knowledge in sailing, the sea, and weather was clear from the start, but what set him apart was the way he taught.
We didnât just learn how to sail from Kelvyn; we learned life lessons, heard stories from his journey through the army, and were reminded – often gently – of the value of patience, which he had in spades. Heâs a thoughtful, quietly funny individual who handled our many mishaps with far more grace than we probably deserved.
Iâll always remember him fondly with gratitude and respect. I thank him and wish him the very best.
