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Disabled Sailing & The S.T.S. “Lord Nelson”

It was from a friendship formed through disabled sailing that I got my first invitation to participate in the Tall Ships Race into Dublin in 1998. My friend from Scotland, Ian Taggart OBE invited me to participate and help make up a “Celtic” party for the crew. I was overwhelmed at the thought of sailing on the STS Lord Nelson as I had been aboard several times before when she was in dock in Kinsale, Cork and Milford during the Tall Ships 1991, but to actually be aboard while sailing into a home country port during a major event like this was daunting. I thought about it for a while, and put word about that I would need sponsorship as it would cost in the region of £1,000 between flying to Troon in Scotland, staying aboard for the ten days and flying back again from Liverpool at the end of the journey. (It is not a cheap trip – an average week aboard would be about £500 plus your connecting flights). As luck would have it I found a very generous donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) who give me the opportunity of participating in the event and realising the dream come true.

I set off from Cork and took the train to Dublin, jumped in a taxi to the Airport and just caught the plane to Prestwick in Scotland. We landed after an hour and we were met at the airport by supporters of the JST in Troon and taken to the Ship. Wow what a sight! There she was alongside the quay and as I looked the tears started to well up... I couldn’t believe I was actually going to be sailing on this lovely ship...

We were welcomed by Captain John Fisher and some of my fellow Celts from Scotland. I was shown to my berth - home for the next ten days. It was up in the fo’castle on the top row with stowage under the lower bunk and a little locker further up. Little did we know at that stage that it was near the chain locker!!! We were then all assembled in the mess for induction nd introduction to the crew. We were put into watches with a Watch Leader and left to get familiar with the boat. An introduction to the ‘Emergency Evacuation’ was carried out. Prior to leaving we got the chance to climb the rigging to get used to the feel of things.

We set sail into the sunset on a bearing for Campbelltown, leaving Troon and Jennifer Guinness’ yacht with friends behind - she joined the crew as part of the Irish contingent. Jennifer is one of the trustees of the Jubilee Sailing Trust who own both the STS Lord Nelson & STS Tenacious and is also our liaison in the Dublin branch of Friends of JST. Watches were organised and those who were on watch were left to get on with it while the rest of us adjusted to our new lifestyle.

My buddy for this trip was a lovely chap named Vincent, who was deaf and dumb but was able to communicate well. He had a friend with him, Michael, who was a great help and was used to “talking” with him and showed me how to do it correctly. Our watch was 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and only a two-hour one as we were at anchor. It was blowing force 8, with heavy rain and was very miserable but in a ship like “Nelly” it didn’t matter much!!

Next morning dawned misty and dull with some wind but it had eased from the previous night. Breakfast was followed by Evacuation drill and “Happy Hour”. Just in case you think that happy hour was spent in the bar... in reality it was spent slopping out the heads, shining the brass and generally tidying up and cleaning followed by tea, coffee & Smokey. Sails were then hoisted and anchor weighed and off we went in the general direction of Dublin. While not on watch, one is free to rest either in the bunk, on deck or in the main saloon. It was lovely to watch the coastline of the North of Ireland and Mew Island as we glided slowly past. The pace on a Tall Ship does not compare with your average Yacht!! The weather was not the best in that it was damp but it did not deter the spirits of the crew. There was always someone aboard who had something cheery to say or a joke or a storey or two to share.

The Lord Nelson a 490 ton three masted barque. She is 55 meters (180ft) long overall and has 18 sails, all of which are handled by the voyage crew under the careful guidance of the professional crew. When not under sail, Lord Nelson has two powerful engines controlled from the bridge and chartroom which is filled with modern navigational aids. Three generators provide a constant supply of electricity, heating and hot water for the showers. The ships cook prepares three appetising meals a day in the well-equipped galley and all voyage crew help prepare. In addition to the sleeping accommodation below decks there is a large mess area and a saloon with a licensed bar!

Her sister ship, Tenacious, was built to answer the demand by voyage crew to go further and for longer periods. She was launched in June 2000 having been built to a Tony Castro design by a team of craftspersons aided by disabled persons over a two-year period. She weighs in at 690 tons and like her sister is also a three masted barque. She is 65 meters long including the bowsprit and has a total of 21 sails. Again when not under sail, she has two powerful engines, controlled from the bridge and chartroom with full modern navigational aids. She has three generators, as the Lord Nelson and she also has a licensed bar in the lower mess!

Both ships cater for persons with disabilities. There is a permanent crew of 10 and a voyage crew of 20 able bodied and 20 disabled persons, with 10 of those being wheelchairs on both boats. The ships have lifts aboard for ease of access to different levels. There are tactile symbols & a talking compass for those with impaired vision. All voyagers participate fully regardless of their disability in the running of the ship, be it in the galley, mucking out the heads, getting to the yardarms or hauling on the lines. There is even access for wheelchairs to the crow’s nest!

So queue up for a voyage of a lifetime... I can guarantee that once you have experienced the thrill of sailing a Tall Ship you’ll never want to leave... Contact Triona O’Neill for further details at “The Bollard”, 16, Seaview Ave., Currabinny Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork or 086-8200257, or Michael Booth at the Dublin branch of JST 01-2822403 or the JST directly at 0044-2380 449 138.