JST Plans First Voyage Around The Globe

Jubilee

Sailing Trust (JST),  the world’ only tall ship operator and charity to have vessels specifically designed to accommodate disabled people

including wheelchair users, has announced its plans to enter Sail

Training International’ Sydney 100 Tall Ships Regatta 2013 as part of

its first around the globe voyage.

The

planning process for the 18 month voyage which creates an unprecedented

opportunity for physically disabled people to explore the world from

the decks of a square-rigged sailing ship, is well underway with the

help of Thomas Gunn Navigation Services following a donation of a

complete set of world routing charts.

The

JST ship will leave the UK next winter and follow the route of the old

trading square-riggers, arriving in Australia in time to represent the

UK during the International Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy,

in October 2013. The JST ship will then take part in the Tall Ships race

from Sydney to Auckland.

äóìNo

other country operates a tall ship that can accommodate disabled

people, including wheelchair users, to the extent of the specifically

designed and purpose-built JST vessels,äó explains Andy Spark, Ship

Operations Manager, Jubilee Sailing Trust.

äóìWhile

the concept of sailing a tall ship around the world with novices on

board is not new, this circumnavigation brings new meaning to the idea

that ‘everybody’ can experience crossing the oceans on a square-rigged

sailing ship. The ethos of the JST is to integrate people of all

physical abilities, so at any one time, around 50% of the voyage crew

will be able-bodied and the other 50% will be disabled. To accommodate a

range of disabilities, the JST ship features lifts for wheelchair

users, an audio compass for the visually impaired and a hearing loop for

the hearing impaired. We also hope that groups in the ports of call

will charter the ship during her visit to their country as an

unprecedented opportunity for their disabled nationals.

JST

has been in operation for nearly 35 years and in that time has taken

36,000 people to sea including 14,000 people with physical disabilities

and 5,000 wheelchair users. The aim of the charity is to promote

integration between able bodied and physically disabled men and women

through the adventure of tall ship sailing. The progress of the voyage

can be followed at www.jst.org.uk.