Unique tall ship due to arrive in Durban on ground breaking global voyage with disabled and able-bodied crew
A unique tall ship, sailed by disabled and able bodied people on a ground breaking voyage around the world, is due to arrive in Durban tomorrow morning (Tuesday 26 February 2013). The Lord Nelson, a 55-metre square rigger, is arriving from Cape Town as part of the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge, a 50,000-mile journey designed to promote equality and inclusion in every port of call.
The voyage is organised by UK charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and is supported by international legal practice, Norton Rose, which has five of its 42 offices in Africa, including Durban. The ship has been designed and built to allow disabled and able bodied crew to sail alongside each other as equals.
Hoping to meet the ship as she docks in Durban at approximately 1200 noon local time (1000 GMT)on Tuesday, is Thokozani Mthoko “Deajay” Latha, a graduate of the Durban-based Sail Africa youth development programme. Deajay will join the ship as a member of the voyage crew for the next leg of her journey to Kochi, India, along with Wandisile ‘Wadi” Xayimpi, who will represent Cape Town based charity Izivunguvungu. Jubilee Sailing Trust has invited the young South African sailors to take part in the voyage in order to support the development work of the two charities, which use sailing to help youngsters to develop their confidence and self-esteem.
The Lord Nelson will be berthed at O Shed, next to the N Shed passenger terminal for the duration of the stopover in Kwa-Zulu Natal, until she sets sail for Kochi on Sunday 3March.
Among those arriving in Durban on board the ship are a number of South Africans, including Mandy Latimore, 52, from Johannesburg. Mandy, a self-confessed adrenaline junkie, who is a wheelchair user following a climbing accident but that has not dulled her desire to reach new heights.
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is being on the highest point possible on Lord Nelson,” said the independent consultant in the disability sector as she prepared to set sail from Cape Town to round the Cape of Good Hope on 16February.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s CEO, Alex Lochrane, said, “Following our hugely successful stopover in Cape Town and a brief call at Port Elizabeth, Captain Chris Phillips and the crew of the Lord Nelson are very much looking forward to their visit to Durban. We are also delighted to be able to welcome two South African development sailors from Sail Africa in Durban and Izivunguvungu in Cape Town on board for the next stage of the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge.
“The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s mission is one of inclusion, community and teamwork and, without this, Lord Nelson would never be able to make this amazing ocean journey,” adds Lochrane.
Over the course of the 23-month voyage, the Lord Nelson will make four Equator crossings, log 50,000 nautical miles and visit 30 countries on seven continents.The journey is unique, due to the people who make up the voyage crew: all of them have stepped out of their everyday lives to participate, all of them refusing to be limited by disability or self-imposed comfort zones to become part of a round the world crew.
Berths are still available to sail on board Lord Nelson during the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge. No experience is required and a wide range of physical disabilities can be accommodated. Among the bespoke features of the ship are hearing loops, wheelchair lifts, integrated Braille instructions and speaking compasses. For more information visit www.jst.org.uk or email info@jst.org.uk.
Sponsor Norton Rose, which has an office in Durban, is supporting this unique global voyage under their banner of “All abilities. All aboard.”
ENDS//
Notes to editors
Key dates for Lord Nelson’s inaugural visit to Durban
Tuesday 26 February Lord Nelson arrives in Durban. Berthing at O-Shed, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Durban,KZN. Pilot scheduled to board at 1100 local and Lord Nelson due to come alongside at approximately 1200 noon local.
Sunday 3March (1400 local time): Lord Nelson departs Durban forKochi, India.
To book interviews, to request hi-res images and for more media information contact:
Anna Wardley, media & public relations, Jubilee Sailing Trust
UK cell phone:+44 (0)7793 417754
anna.wardley@seagrasscommunications.com
Candice Collins, communications specialist, Norton Rose South Africa (incorporated as Deneys ReitzInc)
Tel: +27 (0)11685 8630
Email: Candice.Collins@nortonrose.com
The Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge
During her inaugural 23-month circumnavigation of the world, the 55-metre square rigger,Lord Nelson, will log four Equator crossings and visit 30 countries on seven continents. More than 1,000 people will have the opportunity to sail on the vessel during this 50,000-mile voyage. It is the first time that an accessible square-rigged sailing ship has undertaken such a journey crewed by disabled sailors alongside their able-bodied peers.
The Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge route: Southampton (UK), Rio de Janeiro(Brazil), Cape Town (South Africa), Durban (South Africa), Kochi (India),Singapore, Fremantle (Australia), Melbourne (Australia), Hobart (Australia),Sydney (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand), Wellington (New Zealand), Nelson(New Zealand), Auckland (New Zealand), Ushuaia (Argentina), Antarctica, BuenosAires (Argentina), Recife (Brazil), Halifax (Canada), Southampton(UK).
Lord Nelson
The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s tall ship, Lord Nelson, was designed to enable physically disabled people, including wheelchair users, to sail alongside their non-disabled peers as equals. Lord Nelson was built in the UK and first set sail in 1986. Since then she has been changing the lives of everybody who sails on her.
Jubilee Sailing Trust
The Jubilee Sailing Trust was founded in 1978 and was the brainchild of Christopher Rudd, a teacher and sailor who wanted to give his disabled pupils the same opportunities as able-bodied children. Starting with two non-adapted vessels, the charity grew and Lord Nelson, a custom built ship which can be sailed by a crew of 40,was commissioned. Since her maiden voyage in 1986, more than 10,000 people with a physical disability, including almost 4,000 wheelchair users, have sailed aboard Lord Nelson.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust also owns and operates a second tall ship,Tenacious. She is currently operating voyages in Europe.
www.jst.org.uk
Norton Rose
Norton Rose is a leading international legal practice offering a full business law service to many of the world’s pre-eminent financial institutions and corporations from offices in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia. Knowing how their clients’businesses work and understanding what drives their industries is fundamental to Norton Rose.
Norton Rose lawyers share industry knowledge and sector expertise across borders, enabling them to support their clients anywhere in the world. They are strong in financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, miningand commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and pharmaceuticals and life sciences.
Norton Rose has more than 2,900 lawyers operating from offices in Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Amsterdam, Athens, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing,Bogotá, Brisbane, Brussels, Calgary, Canberra, Cape Town, Caracas, Casablanca,Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Durban, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Johannesburg,London, Melbourne, Milan, Montréal, Moscow, Munich, Ottawa, Paris, Perth,Piraeus, Prague, Québec, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Warsaw; and its associate office in Jakarta.
From 1 June, 2013 Norton Rose will join forces with leading U.S. law firm Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. to create Norton Rose Fulbright. They will also have offices in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis,New York, Pittsburgh-Southpointe, Riyadh, San Antonio, St Louis and Washington,D.C. With 3,800 lawyers, Norton Rose Fulbright will be one of the largest global legal practices, with significant depth of expertise in the world’s leading business and financial centres.
Norton Rose is the business name for the international legal practicethat comprises Norton Rose LLP, Norton Rose Australia, Norton Rose Canada LLPand Norton Rose South Africa (incorporated as Deneys Reitz Inc) and theirrespective affiliates. www.nortonrose.com
