Between 17–19 October 2025, six members of 100RA took to the water for Exercise SOLENT UBIQUE – a three-day sailing expedition on board Bombardier III, the Royal Artillery Yacht Club’s 34-foot yacht. Supported by The Ulysses Trust, regimental, and public funds, the exercise aimed to develop teamwork, leadership, and seamanship through practical adventurous training on the Solent.
Preparation and Departure
The crew – consisting of four Majors, one Captain, and one Bombardier, under the command of Major Rob Giles – assembled at Gosport on Friday morning. After an initial brief from the bosun, the skipper conducted a comprehensive handover of the yacht, while the crew took responsibility for provisioning supplies as well as “essential” morale items from the local shops.
Following a safety and familiarisation session, the crew reviewed key sailing procedures before departing the marina in calm conditions. Spirits were high as Bombardier III motored gently out into the Solent – the enthusiastic but largely out-of-practice crew seizing the opportunity to rehearse basic procedures in a beginner-friendly environment.
Day One – Gosport to Yarmouth
With barely a breath of wind, the team motor-sailed for most of the day, using the opportunity to rotate through roles on deck. Each member practiced helming, trimming sails, and maintaining the ship’s log under the skipper’s guidance. Tea and sandwiches flowed freely as the crew made steady progress.
The attempt to sail unaided by the engine was short-lived: ten minutes of proud independence ended when the wind fell away once again, forcing a return to power to reach Yarmouth before dark. The crew nonetheless executed a textbook entry into harbour and secured the vessel with unexpected precision.
As evening fell, the boat was tidied, sails covered, and lines coiled before the crew turned their attention to more domestic concerns. After a lively debate over berth allocations (fuelled by speculation about who might be the loudest snorer) the night concluded aboard with a hearty meal of bangers and mash, conjured from the yacht’s temperamental oven, and a renewed sense of teamwork.
Day Two – Yarmouth to Cowes
Saturday began at what the crew generously described as a “reasonable hour” – 8 a.m. A full cooked breakfast restored energy levels, while the skipper conducted his morning navigation checks from his bunk, tea in hand, evidently relishing a brief reprieve from domestic duties ashore. Others made a bakery run for coffee and donuts, ensuring morale remained at a consistently high level.
By 10 a.m., Bombardier III was underway again, this time in much livelier conditions. Stronger winds allowed for proper sailing as the crew made way toward Cowes. Under the skipper’s instruction, each member practiced tacking and sail control; the breeze strengthened enough to require a reef, adding both challenge and satisfaction to the day’s work.
Conversation remained spirited. Topics ranged from the suitability of various boarding weapons to how far the team might reach across the Channel before the skipper noticed. Amid the laughter, teamwork and coordination improved markedly. Even the occasional zig-zagging helm – courtesy of the crew’s lone infanteer – added to the day’s entertainment.
Lunch consisted of expertly prepared ham and cheese toasties, served as the crew listened to the Coastguard respond to a Mayday from “Rubber Ducky”, a capsized catamaran. Fortunately, all souls were rescued, but the vessel sank. The episode served as a timely reminder of the importance of preparedness and training when sailing in such conditions.
By late afternoon, the yacht arrived at Cowes, deftly dodging jet skis on approach before docking with impressive control. Reconnaissance parties again deployed, this time to Waitrose for further victualling, while the skipper prepared an ambitious cheese board for later consumption. An exploration ashore provided another morale boost before the crew returned aboard for cheese, lashings of tea, and well-earned rest.
Day Three – Return to Gosport
With gales forecast for Sunday, the team rose early, slipping lines by 0700 in the dark. The anticipated storm failed to materialise, and instead the Solent offered a cool, choppy but manageable sail home. Breakfast consisted of warm croissants and hot coffee, enjoyed on deck as the yacht made good progress under sail.
After a brief fuel stop, Bombardier III was returned safely to her home berth in Gosport. The final act was a collective clean-down – decks swabbed, kit stowed, and remaining supplies divided amongst the crew. Major Giles provided individual feedback and guidance on future sailing qualifications before the team dispersed, tired but content, each reflecting on how far they had come in just three days.
Reflections and Impact: For many participants, Exercise SOLENT UBIQUE was their first exposure to yacht sailing in some time, and for others, a chance to develop new confidence and competence at sea. The expedition successfully fostered leadership, communication, and resilience – all core objectives of the Ulysses Trust’s mission to enable personal growth through challenge.
“The exercise served to not only develop our confidence as sailors, but to demonstrate the importance of rapidly forming a cohesive team when faced with shared challenges. I think each of us will walk away feeling more confident at sea, but also having developed teamwork and leadership skills that are essential for all the work we do as part of the Army Reserve” said Captain Laurence Sutton, one of the crew.
The team extends its sincere thanks to The Ulysses Trust, Royal Artillery Yacht Club, and all supporting organisations whose funding and assistance made the expedition possible. Exercise SOLENT UBIQUE left every participant with a stronger appreciation of teamwork, seamanship, and the enduring value of adventure training across the Army Reserve.
