News
April 3rd 2025
Exercise Canaries Express: mastering the bucking bronco
As the UK geared up for Christmas, Officer Cadet (OCdt) Edward Hamilton, of East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps, jetted to Lanzarote with a group of 10 strangers for Exercise Canaries Express.
The two-week expedition saw the group sail a 55-foot yacht, Dasher, around the Canary Islands. While it sounds like a dreamy holiday, it was no walk in the park. One of the crew paints a vivid picture:
“First, place 11 strangers on the back of a large bucking bronco. Tell them to steer it on a straight course for hours at a time, sometimes through the night. Kindly inform them that if they fall off, there is a good chance of death. Now add great sheets of canvas above their heads, moved by elements beyond their control, and ropes that whip around like deadly sea serpents bent on snagging ankles and mauling hands. Strap a gas cooker on the underside of the contraption and tell the unlucky soul at the rear to cook a meal for the whole crew – bear in mind, the bronco is still bucking. This is the kind of environment where a person’s true character comes out, and on a boat there is nowhere to hide.”
The crew onboard ‘Dasher’ participates in Exercise Canaries Express, demonstrating teamwork and coordination as part of the maritime exercise in the waters off the Canary Islands.
A Journey of Challenge, Growth, and Teamwork
The trip set off from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, with stops at Santa Cruz, Amarilla, La Gomera, Puerto De Mogan, Gran Canaria, before returning to Lanzarote.
The crew faced long, exhausting hours of sailing, taking turns on four-hour watches and wading through difficult conditions that often left crew members feeling seasick.
OCdt Hamilton of EMUOTC said: “The most challenging aspect of this trip wasn’t the lack of privacy that you had for two weeks but instead the sea sickness when below deck; I don’t think that I have ever felt worse when you’re below deck trying to make sandwiches for lunch with the boat is chucking you about and knowing there was no way you could make it stop.”
Despite these hardships, the crew was treated to stunning moments of natural beauty, witnessing shooting stars and glowing bioluminescent waves. They spotted stingrays, sea turtles, and dolphins, and even caught fresh mahi mahi, which they cooked and enjoyed on board.
As the expedition progressed, the crew’s skills improved. They mastered mooring drills, became more efficient at navigating the yacht and even took the time to explore the Canary Islands during their port stops. From an orchestra in Santa Cruz to a local fiesta on La Gomera, the crew truly experienced the islands’ culture firsthand.
In just two weeks, they had gone from strangers to a tight-knit team and after a final crew meal, they boarded a flight back to the UK, richer in life and with a deep sense of accomplishment.
Reflecting on his experience, OCdt Hamilton said: “The exercise aimed to improve teamwork and character, which had to come about very quickly as 11 people went from not knowing anyone to living with them in a very confined space for two weeks.
“I was looking to improve my offshore sailing skills as I do a lot of dinghy sailing, but there was no expectation to receive the competent crew qualification that we ended up attaining, all thanks to our skipper.”
