Our History

“Unbelievable experience, the mixture of being on the water and chatting to like-minded people was worth more than any counselling session.”
Sailing participant
“Turn to Starboard has helped me on the road to recovery and I shall never forget it.”
Sailing participant
“Spending time as a family doing something we wouldn’t usually do was a brilliant adventure.”
Family Sail participants
“It’s been an amazing experience and feels like my soul has been recharged. Brilliant couple of days.”
Sailing participant
 ‘My daddy came back from Afghanistan – but when we went sailing, he really came back.’ 
Family Sail participant
“When I came to Turn to Starboard I felt scared and nervous … the week on the yacht was amazing … I felt part of a team.”
Sailing participant
“What an experience! … a chance to be a family. Thank you so much”
Family Sail participant
“For the first time in many years I have a purpose in life. I have goals to qualify as a RYA Yachtmaster. I feel alive again.”
Sailing participant
"We all had a fantastic time and not only acquired new skills but relished the family time we had away from all the distractions of everyday life and the stress of my injuries."
Family Sail participant
"Since my engagement with Turn to Starboard, life has taken on a new meaning and purpose. "
Sailing participant
"I felt in a better place and it markedly improved my interaction with others, delivering a new sense of purpose, value and belonging."
Sailing participant
"Turn to Starboard provides much-needed aid to a steady and growing stream of beneficiaries "
Charity Patron - Sir Dusty Miller
"We believe there is something immeasurable about seeing the world from the sea. Sailing promotes a can-do attitude, a sense of well-being and camaraderie amongst all who participate."
Turn to Starboard CEO and founder Shaun Pascoe

Turn to Starboard was created from the personal experiences of its founder, Squadron Leader (Rtd) Shaun Pascoe.

Turn to Starboard was founded by RAF Squadron Leader (Rtd) Shaun Pascoe.  The idea of using sail training to help Forces personnel overcome the challenges of transition to civilian life was inspired by Shaun’s own personal experience.

Shaun served on numerous tours during his sixteen years in the RAF, including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and repeatedly to Afghanistan as Officer Commanding (OC) of the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT).

MERT is a medical team that flies forward using the Chinook aircraft to retrieve those significantly injured at the point of wounding, often under heavy enemy fire. The high-intensity nature of his operational work meant the transition on coming home became an increasing challenge.

Shaun found it difficult adjusting to normal life, he felt isolated and found it difficult to share his experiences, even with his loved ones.

 

After his second tour of Afghanistan Shaun raised £8,300 from various charitable sources and purchased windsurfing equipment and a rescue boat. As a windsurfing instructor Shaun taught those returning from operations with an emphasis on meeting others in similar positions.

Approaching his last year in service, Shaun decided to spend his resettlement time and money on a Royal Yachting Association, Yachtmaster Offshore course with Cruising Instructor. Within two weeks of sailing he felt in a better place.

Using this qualification Shaun began providing sailing opportunities for others. As he came  to the end of his sixteen years service he was able to focus on this activity full-time and has since amassed a significant following and support. In order to ensure the robustness and governance of what he was doing, Shaun registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in July 2012 and Turn to Starboard was born.

Our Partners and Supporters

 

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

To keep up to date with everything Turn to Starboard is doing, please sign-up to our newsletter