Tenacious sailors are wheelchair boundless

FRIDAY, APRIL 13: The tall ship Tenacious, currently docked at Front Street, provides living proof that people who are disabled are not necessarily unable.

A crew of 40 mixed ability and permanent crew have just sailed the 213-foot square-rigger on a six-day transatlantic voyage from Nassau in the Bahamas to Bermuda.

The ship, launched by the Jubilee Sailing Trust in 2000, was designed to be accessible to people of all abilities right down to the adjustable tables and chairs.

Yesterday morning, the crew enjoyed an exercise in climbing up the 100-plus- foot masts and taking in the view of Hamilton and the harbour. Among those climbing were a group of wheelchair-users, but none of them decided to stay in their chairs and simply be winched up.

"Then we wouldn’t be doing anything," said Arabella Barrie.

Can-do attitude

Instead they climbed up the steep ladders using their arm strength and some assistance from the crew. It is a testament to the can-do attitude that is inherent in so many people with disabilities, an attitude that a journey on a ship like Tenacious can often help to garner.

"I defy anyone to come and do a trip on one of these ships and not have it change their attitude towards disabilities," said Captain Simon Catterson who has been at the helm almost since the ship launched.

"The crew tell us that the big difference between here and other places is that here they are expected to just get on with it — if you can do it then get on and do it.

"In lots of other places the expectation is 'no you won’t be able to do that so maybe you can do just a bit of it’. After you have been here a while it becomes automatic — it’s just another bunch of people and as with any crew you use them in the best way you can. You don’t even really think about it."

Not only was Tenacious designed to be operated and maintained by people of mixed ability — it was physically built by them.

"In 1995 the Jubilee Trust decided to do something completely outrageous and build it themselves," explained Captain Catterson.

"They decided to build it with wood in a yard in Southampton (UK) with a huge crowd of mixed ability people led by a team of ship wrights — it was a fully-integrated project. Certainly in the first few years people would be coming on board saying 'oh yes — I built that bit.’ It is quite something."

The trust also built the Lord Nelson in 1986 — the first ship in the world designed and built to accommodate mixed ability crew. Both ships are fully accessible for people of all abilities with wide decks, low railings, wheelchair lifts, a hearing loop, a speaking compass and hydraulic power-assisted steering to name just a few features.

"We can cope with just about any physical disability on this ship," said Captain Catterson.

• Anyone interested in sailing aboard Tenacious or the Lord Nelson can find out more by visiting www.jst.org.uk or by calling (UK) 023-8044-9138. Tall Ships Bermuda provides financial assistance to young Bermudians aged 17 to 25 who are interested in sailing on a tall ship. For more information, visit: www.tallshipsbermuda.com or email john.wadson@tallships.bm or bmorfitt@transact.bm

FRIDAY, APR. 13: The tall ship Tenacious sailed into Hamilton Harbour on Wednesday afternoon following a six-day Atlantic crossing from the Bahamas.

Tenacious is one of two tall ships from the Jubilee Sailing Trust that has been designed to cater for physically disadvantaged crew and allow them to work equally alongside the able bodied. Sarah Lagan caught up with two of the young crewmembers to talk about their ocean adventure.

As a wheelchair-user, Michael Cardoso is used to having to ask people to help him get around. But the tables were turned during his recent sailing trip aboard the tall ship Tenacious.

Part of a 50-strong crew that included many other physically disabled young people, he suddenly found himself being asked to assist others who had difficulties getting around.

The Bermudian Capital G worker described the experience as "empowering" and said he enjoyed being in an environment where he was perceived and treated the same as everybody else.

Also on board was British sailing enthusiast Gemma Wyatt, the granddaughter of Bermuda’s former Chief Justice Hector Barcilon. The 25-year-old nursing assistant’s voyage aboard Tenacious was her third sailing trip and she hopes to have many more.

Gemma was born prematurely at 29 weeks and suffered a brain haemorrhage that left her with learning difficulties. But her new-found passion has filled her with confidence and she says she would love to become a ship’s bosun or helmswoman.

Emerging from the ship with a beaming smile and upbeat demeanour, Michael, who lost the use of his legs after a bike accident in 2003, told the Bermuda Sun: "It was great, just being able to feel normal for once. I was just working with other people and they were not looking at the chair, they were not worried about it. Everybody’s just helping each other.

"I was helping other people who couldn’t necessarily move around the ship very well. It’s cool for somebody to finally ask me to help them — I’m always asking other people. It made me feel useful and normal — it was awesome. I’d never been on a sailing boat before — it was great — a once in a lifetime experience.

If I had the time I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Gemma Wyatt combined her passion for sailing with helping a good cause during this trip — she did a sponsored climb to the top of the 37m mast to raise money for the voyage organizers the Jubilee Sailing Trust. The Trust is the registered charity that promotes the integration of people of all physical abilities aboard Tenacious and a similar ship the Lord Nelson.

Gemma told the Bermuda Sun: "It was scary climbing up the mast because it was swaying about but I am raising lots of money — 237 pounds so far.

She added: "The trip was fantastic — we saw lots of dolphins near Nassau.

"I want to be a bosun on board of one of the ships — I love going up in the ropes and getting into it and mucking in. I’m not so scared going up there now. I’d also like to be a watch leader — it’s probably easier. I like steering the boat and pretending it’s my own boat.

"I just love the atmosphere and being out on the water, seeing the wildlife and meeting new people and making new friends."

Gemma is to continue sailing from Bermuda to Southampton, UK.

Tenacious and the Lord Nelson are the only two ships of their kind in the world designed in such a way that enables the physically challenged to work on an equal footing as the able-bodied from scrubbing the decks to working up in the sails.

Regardless of your ability levels, the permanent crew will encourage you that no job is beyond your ability.

Michael added: "We did everything that any other able bodied crew would do — cleaning the decks, polishing, pulling ropes and sails and helming the boats. I definitely liked the helming the best and the night watch because you can watch the stars and the moon — it’s beautiful and there’s no cell phones or communication.

"They will take you on and they will work with you and if they know you can’t do a certain thing they’ll let you do something else.

"I would tell anyone to do it for the team building experience we had a bunch of people who didn’t know anybody here and you work together to get the boat to the destination it’s awesome — I loved it."

Anyone interested in sailing aboard Tenacious or the Lord Nelson can find out more by visiting www.jst.org.uk or by calling (UK) 023-8044-9138. Tall Ships Bermuda provides financial assistance to young Bermudians aged 17 to 25 who are interested in sailing on a tall ship. For more information, visit: www.tallshipsbermuda.com, or email john.wadson@tallships.bm or bmorfitt@transact.bm.