Master and Commander star will help celebrate Lord Nelson’s 25th Anniversary

On Tuesday 11 October 2011, Robert Pugh, the Welsh film and TV actor, will be setting off on the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s tall ship Tenacious, in her first ever race against the Trust’s senior tall ship, Lord Nelson.

This won’t be Robert’s first time on the high seas. In 2003, he played Mr Allen, the
Sailing Master on the British warship HMS Surprise, in the multi Oscar- nominated film,
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, set in 1805 during the Napoleonic
Wars. But this time Robert won’t be under fire!

Robert will be taking part in this exciting race from the Solent to Cherbourg and then back to Southampton, in order to gain experience of sailing with the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) in preparation for a later voyage when he will be making a film about the Trust.

This inaugural race is part of the JST’s celebrations to mark the 25th Anniversary of the
launch of Lord Nelson in October 1986 – the first tall ship in the world designed and built to enable disabled and able-bodied people to sail side by side as equals.

The JST is a registered charity based in Southampton that promotes the integration of
people of all physical abilities through the challenge of tall ship sailing on board its two ships - the only two of their kind in the world, purpose-designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to take part in sailing the ships within their own capabilities or individual strengths.

The crews for this celebratory race will include wheelchair users and other physically
disabled people ranging in age from 18 to over 80 years old.

The race is being generously supported by the Royal Yacht Squadron, whose start line will be used for the first leg of the race from the Solent to Cherbourg on Tuesday 11 October at 1600.

Cowes Esplanade in the Isle of Wight and Lepe beach on the West Solent in Hampshire
will be good viewing points to see the start of the race. The crews will celebrate together on reaching Cherbourg before setting off again on Friday 14 October for the return leg of the race back to the Solent. The Honourable Jacquetta Cator, President of the JST will present the prizes at a celebratory event in Southampton on Sunday 16 October.