I am about to sail across the Atlantic with 4 friends (well actually one friend and three people I have just met). This is something of a personal challenge for me, as although I have sailed on the west coast and to France I have rarely lost sight of land! This time, its 2,890 miles of sea between Lanzarote and Antigua. We are going on a 43 ft catamaran and it should take between 18 days and 3 weeks. Whilst scurvy is unlikely, I am a bit worried about my caffeine levels and there is a nasty rumour that alcohol is to be either severely rationed or completely unavailable.
I am talking up the severity of the challenge and privations as I am hoping to raise some money for a very worthwhile charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust. The trust exists to give disabled people the chance to sail on a tall ship, helping to overcome prejudices and misconceptions about disability amongst able-bodied people and also enabling those with a disability to show to themselves and to others what they are really capable of when the environment is designed to be inclusive. Tall ships lend themselves very well to the JST's objectives for two reasons: firstly, very few people have ever been on a tall ship so each voyage every one of the voyage crew (the non-permanent crew) is as unfamiliar with the environment as the next person. Secondly, to get the ship to sail requires good teamwork so the voyage crew learn how to spot people's natural strengths, talk to and encourage each other, and engage with people they may otherwise never have met. The JST’s two ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious, are the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals. Places are subsidised, and bursaries are available for those who would otherwise be unable to go.If you look at the attached link you will be able to find out more, and will see from the testimonials that such trips can have a profound effect on people’s lives. I hope that you will forgive the request, and hope too that you will feel able to sponsor our endeavour. Thanks in advance,
Ant
To keep up to date on our trip across the Atlantic, take a look at the link below:
http://blog.mailasail.com/pacificbliss
For more information on the Jubilee Sailing Trust go to www.jst.org.uk
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