PRESS RELEASE
Date: 28/02/11
Local Sailor Takes off on a Tall Ship Adventure
Chris Cooper from Kingswear, Dartmouth will be setting off on a tall ship adventure in May this year.
Chris, who is now retired, has been a keen sailor since his childhood and has owned and sailed cruising catamarans with his wife since the early 1970s. He will be joining the tall ship Lord Nelson for a 5 day voyage leaving Weymouth on 9th May and arriving in Dartmouth on the 13th. He will be joining a crew of up to 40 other amateurs on board the ship which is owned and operated by Southampton - based charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST).
The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) is a registered charity that promotes the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge of tall ship sailing on board its two ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious. These are the only two of their kind in the world, purpose-designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side by side on equal terms. Everyone on board has a part to play whatever their level of experience or ability.
Facilities on board include flat, wide decks for ease of movement around the ships, wheelchair lifts between deck levels, a hearing loop, a speaking compass and the option for joystick steering or the usual ship’s wheel, but with hydraulic power-assisted steering.
Chris says of his spring voyage:
"Above all, I am looking forward to sailing on a genuine square-rigger, learning to be part of a mixed physical ability crew and helming a large ship in a strong breeze!"
There are currently berths available for May 2011 on 5-7 day UK voyages departing from Weymouth, Dartmouth and Brixham, and taster day sails from Weymouth, Dartmouth and Falmouth. Full details of all of the JST’s voyages are available at: www.jst.org.uk
The JST operates a 'buddy’ system on board ship for disabled travellers who wish to have an able-bodied companion, or to take their own carer with them on a voyage. Carers would have to pay the full cost of their voyage. Information on 'buddies’ can also be found on the JST website.