GUNNER James Palk, from Eastleigh, has embarked on a challenging journey to sail from the Falkland Islands to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil as part of the Leadership Through the Atlantic, British Army Expedition.

James, 21, who is serving in the Royal Artillery, is still in his phase two basic training and heard about the trip just two weeks before leaving for the South Atlantic. Talking before setting sail, he said: "I was really excited when I heard. It's a good opportunity to go out and see the world."

James has sailed before and has his complete crew certificate' and has done some dinghy sailing, making him the most experience sailor of the novices on the boat.

He continued: "Hopefully that will give me the chance to show some potential leadership skills.

"We get to go to the Falklands and Rio, not many people get to do that! I think working in an uncomfortable situation I'll get to learn more about myself.

"The toughest part is probably being put in a group of people you do not know, having to live and work together in cramped conditions. And it's 24/7. The training we have had has helped us prepare for the side of things.

"It was a surprise for my parents, they're really excited. They realise it's a good opportunity for me."

Each leg has selected about ten soldiers who have just completed or still carrying out their basic training, with some sections also taking a battlefield casualty, who has been injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. The boat will have army sailing instructors on board who are an experienced crew and will supervise and teach the recruits.

The 67-foot yacht, Discoverer, left Gosport at the end of last August bound for the Canaries. During the year-long journey some 200 soldiers will have the opportunity to crew the boat during its voyage.

The boat is now on the return journey by a roundabout route from the Falklands to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, then north to Halifax in Canada, across into the Arctic via Iceland and Greenland and down to Norway before returning to the UK, covering nearly 30,000 nautical miles.

Participation of the young soldiers on the expedition will offer them an experience of a lifetime but in the process they will develop qualities of teamwork, self-awareness and confidence which will benefit their military careers, and prove no less valuable in later civilian employment and their future role in society too.

The expedition Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales. As soon as the Yacht, Discoverer is back home in the UK, Prince Charles will host all members of the team at a function to celebrate the success of the voyage.

James attended Barton Pereril College and worked as teacher support at St Mary's Primary School before joining the army last year. His parents Andrew and Audrey live in Eastleigh.

6:02am Monday 14th April 2008

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