Jubilee Sailing Trust ship Lord Nelson visits the Canary Islands
The Jubilee Sailing Trusts ship, the Lord Nelson, arrived at Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) yesterday, Friday 2nd November 2012 and will stay there for four days as part of its ‘around the world’ voyage on what is the worlds first disability-friendly ship. Press release as follows:
Press release
The Jubilee Sailing Trust has made history by launching the world’s first disability-friendly tall ship, the 55 ft tall Lord Nelson. On its ground breaking world voyage to pass on the spirit of the Paralympics. First stop: Rio! The resounding success of the London 2012 Paralympics has done a lot to transform public perception of what can be achieved by disabled people. An intrepid mixed-ability crew is about to set sail around the world and again redefine what is possible. This inspirational voyage departed from Southampton on Sunday 21st October on Lord Nelson, a unique 55 ft high tall ship which was built specifically to accommodate people with a vast range of disabilities. Britain has a proud sea-faring heritage and the JST Sail The World voyage will highlight the ability of disabled people to achieve something truly amazing and create history as they become the first crew of this type to sail around the world. Crew member James Whale, who suffers from cerebral palsy and has previously won two silver medals at the Cerebral Palsy World Games, has swapped his goggles for sails and is very much looking forward to this epic first leg from Britain to Rio de Janeiro. ‘I can’t wait to be aboard Lord Nelson.
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JST allows people with disability to broaden their horizons and experience something which they never thought possible – I’m now a sailing fanatic! The community on board is incredible; people with all sorts of disabilities combine with able-bodied crew members to sail the ship and the camaraderie can create life-long friendships. These JST trips do give a real sense of achievement and I’d recommend it to everyone, disabled or not’ – James Whale, Crew Member of JST Sail.
The World The Jubilee Sailing Trust was founded in 1978 and was the brainchild of Christopher Rudd, a teacher and sailor who wanted to give his disabled pupils the same opportunities as able-bodied children. Starting with two small vessels the charity grew and Lord Nelson, a custom built boat which can be sailed by a crew of 40, was commissioned. Since her maiden voyage in 1986, over 10,000 people with a physical disability have sailed aboard Lord Nelson and of those around 50% were wheelchair users. The bespoke features on Lord Nelson, as well as the JST’s other ship, Tenacious, mean that a disabled sailor can contribute to the voyage just as much as an able-bodied crew member and the interdependence creates a community aboard the ship for the duration of the voyage and that bond remains long after the crew is back on dry land. To name but a few features unique to Lord Nelson and Tenacious are hearing loops, wheel chair ramps, integrated brail instructions and ergonomic modifications so that anyone can operate the rigging. On 21 October Lord Nelson’s permanent crew will be joined by around 35 pioneering spirits to embark upon on of the most ambitious and historic voyages in British maritime history; the first ever around-the-world tall ship voyage for a crew of this type. From Southampton this unique 55 ft high ship will head towards Rio de Janeiro, rather fitting considering it will be the host city of the next Paralympic Games in 2016, and will stop at the Canary islands and the Cape Verde Islands along the way.
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Aboard the ship for one of the legs will be Alexandra Rickham, a Team GB Paralympian in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 in the SKUD 18 sailing category. ‘It’s a fantastic project from two very different points of view. The Jubilee Sailing Trust gets people, disabled or able-bodied, involved in sailing and shows them what a wonderful sport it is. More importantly, it gives people with physical disabilities the opportunity to really challenge themselves and try something they may have thought wasn’t even possible, which can be really life-enhancing’ – Alexandra Rickham, British Paralympic Sailor The places, or ‘berths’, on any JST day sail or long distance voyage can be paid for privately or alternatively can be partially or fully sponsored by a charity. The opportunity to sail in a mixed-ability crew can be a life-chaining experience for disabled or able-bodied crew members, for those with vast sailing experience or those with none at all.
Between October 2012 and September 2014 JST Sail The World will make history and will change lives. Visit the official website at jst.org.uk, follow them on Twitter @JubileeSailing or visit them on Facebook.
* Photo courtesy of Damien Burke