- PRESS RELEASE -
Southampton-based charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust will shortly be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the tall ship Tenacious.
Tenacious was the largest wooden tall ship in the world built during the last century and since her first voyage in 2000, the ship has sailed over 170,000 miles, including six voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Over 8,500 people have enjoyed the thrills and challenges of tall ship sailing on board Tenacious and there are special facilities built into the ship enabling people with various physical disabilities to experience tall ship sailing, making up approximately half of each voyage crew.
The project to build the ship was audacious and exciting for all concerned and the JST adopted an innovative approach to the design and build of the ship. Groups of volunteers, of mixed abilities, took part in the building of the vessel between 1996 and 2000 in the shipyard that the JST set up at Merlin Quay in Woolston, Southampton.
Funded by a major grant from the Lottery Sports Fund, as well as by donations from individuals, companies and grant-making trusts throughout the UK and abroad, Tenacious is a great example of what can be achieved with determination, vision and the hard work of a dedicated team of enthusiastic employees and volunteer supporters.
The first of the 10 year celebrations will take place on Tuesday 31st August, with a reception aboard Tenacious, when she will be berthed in her home port of Southampton. The following morning she will set sail for the day with a crew of people who were closely involved in the building of the ship, including television personality Peter Snow, who is a Vice Patron of the JST, the Hon Jacquetta Cator, President of the JST, Tony Castro, designer of Tenacious and many others who played vital roles in completion of the beautiful ship or helped to fund the build.
On 2nd September Tenacious will sail to Jersey, re-enacting the maiden voyage and giving the charity an opportunity to say a big thank you to the States of Jersey who provided a major donation to the project. During Spring 2011 it is planned that invitations to a big shore-side party will go out to the many hundreds of ship build workers and JST supporters who wish to join in the celebrations.
Most regular voyages on Tenacious are 5 days or more, but in September at the time of the Southampton Boat show there are opportunities for anyone to join a day sail in the Solent.