The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) takes both disabled and able-bodied men and women to sea, to teach them how to crew a tall ship, promote equality, sharing, and to celebrate our individual differences by working together to achieve greater things.
Since the JST was established in 1978 over 40,000 people have sailed with it, with 15,000 people who were disabled and 5,000 wheelchair users.
Lord Nelson and Tenacious
Its two ships are the Lord Nelson and Tenacious, which are the only tall ships in the world designed so they can be sailed by a crew with widely varied physical abilities.
Every aspect of shipboard life is available to all, from setting the sails, going aloft and helming the ship.
Among the many features found on Lord Nelson and Tenacious are:
- wide decks for ease of movement
- lifts between deck levels
- power-assisted steering
- signage in Braille
- guidance tracks, tactile stair strips and raised directional arrows on handrails
The Lord Nelson
The Lord Nelson was launched in 1986 and Tenacious launched in 2000 – the largest wooden hulled tall ship of her type to be made since the end of the 19th century.
To help voyage crew fully experience and enjoy life at sea, the ships also offer comfortable accommodation, with eight cabins on each ship for wheelchair users, which feature wider bunks.
Tenacious
On board Tenacious there is a purpose built sick bay equipped for most medical requirements.
The ships have a permanent crew members and volunteers, who are highly skilled professional merchant seafarers that includes a Master, First Mate, Second Mate, Bosun, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, Medical Purser and Cook.
The rest of the crew is made up of 40 people, from all walks of life.
For many, their first voyage with the JST is the first time they have set foot on a tall ship.
They may be physically disabled (we take up to eight wheelchair users on a voyage) or able bodied, male or female.
Voyages range from daily to month-long sailings to destinations worldwide.