Lord Nelson arrives in Durban – Details of Visit

Dated: 27/02/2013

Unique tallship due to arrive in Durban on ground breaking global voyage with disabled andable-bodied crew

A unique tall ship, sailed by disabled and able bodied people on a ground breaking voyage around the world, arrived in Durban Tuesday 26 February 2013. The LordNelson, a 55-metre square rigger, is arriving from Cape Town as part of theNorton Rose Sail the World Challenge, a 50,000-mile journey designed to promoteequality and inclusion in every port of call.

The voyage isorganised by UK charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and is supported by international legal practice, Norton Rose, which has five of its 42 offices inAfrica, including Durban. The ship has been designed and built to allow disabledand able bodied crew to sail alongside each other as equals.

A local who met the ship as she docked 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   ‘Wadi” Xayimpi, who   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   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, withoutt his, 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.”

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Key datesfor Lord Nelson’s inaugural visit to Durban

Tuesday 26February LordNelson 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 for Kochi, India.

To book interviews, to request hi-resimages and for more media information contact:

AnnaWardley, 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

Cape Town Bids Farewell to the Lord Nelson, Now Headed for Durban

The Lord Nelson set sail from Cape Town (V&A Waterfront) at 11am yesterday (Sunday).   Lord Nelson’s destination is Durban, and she will then leave South Africa to sail up to India.

The South African voyage crew members joining include:

Tetraplegic Capetonian Russell Vollmer, 55, who was the first South African to take part in the sailing events at the Paralympic Games at Sydney 2000 and is a former commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club. Vollmer, who has lived as a quadriplegic since the age of 19, became disabled when he broke his neck in a diving accident in 1976 while serving with the South African Navy. Vollmer’s participation s sponsored by international legal practice, Norton Rose.

Versha Rowjee, 41, who has congenital spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. Originally from Mokopane in Limpopo, Rowjee now lives in Johannesburg where she works as an accountant. The experience will be the latest of Rowjee’s personal challenges, which to date have included quad biking and scuba diving.

David Kapelus, 49, director at Norton Rose South Africa, who is sailing on Lord Nelson on the seven-day voyage out of Cape Town. Kapelus has used a wheelchair since a diving accident when he was 18 years old in 1983. “I’m completely excited – it’s going to be a fantastic experience. These opportunities don’t come around often, if ever,” Kapelus said.

Capetonian Brandon Davids, 23, who is profoundly deaf and a student of the Whisper Boatbuilding Community Project, a fiberglass laminating skills development programme for the deaf. The charity, based in the Epping area, is one of the members of SASLA (South African Sail Training for Life Skills Association). Davids joined Whisper in 2011 as one of the charity’s first 15 students.

BACKGROUND:Lord Nelson was built in the UK and first set sail in 1986. The bespoke features on board, including hearing loops, wheelchair lifts, integrated Braille instructions and speaking compasses, allow a disabled sailor to contribute to the voyage just as much as an able-bodied crew member and their interdependence creates a community aboard the ship for the duration of the voyage – a bond which remains long after the crew is back on dry land.

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Could You Spell That, Please?

Boat names are one of a kind. Most often dripping with innuendo and soaked in wit, boat names have always made me smile. While in at the marina last friday I found what could be my favourite name as yet.

Well played, good sir! Well played. I would love to be on the radio for the transmission, “Mayday! Mayday! This is Nauti Buoy. We are experiencing problems with our rigging!”

Have a funny boat name for us? Or just want to show off your creativity? Email us (details under ‘contact us’) and we will feature your wit here on our blog.

Sailing Destinations – Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Famous for some of the most scenic locations in cinematic history (and home of Hobbits), New Zealand plays one of its trump cards when it comes to the undeniably picturesque Bay of Islands. New Zealand boasts one of the highest per capita percentage of boat ownership in the world and with a location like this, it is easy to understand why, if California is home to the drop top, NZ is home to the sailboat.

The region is situated on New Zealand’s northern edge and is famed for year long summer. With a little something for everyone, you might find serenity on one of the many beaches or enjoy a spot of golf. There are coves and cliffs for every taste with over 140 islands to choose from. While the mainland is well developed and has a range of accommodation for every budget, the islands have lazily escape major development.

Aside from the spectacular sailing, the region is also know for many other natural gems such as the Hole in the Rock and Haruru Falls. Haruru means ‘big noise’: a good indication that these unusual, horseshoe-shaped waterfalls are worth seeing. You can drive, walk or kayak from Paihia. The history of the region is also a rich tapestry of Maori legend, colonial conquest and modern unity. Truly one of the world’s top sailing destinations! For more information visit New Zealand Tourism

Have a favourite sailing destination or a story about a your trip to the Bay of Islands? Let us know, we love to hear from you!

Port News – Tall Ship Lord Nelson visits Cape Town

 

Unique tall ship sailed by disabled and able-bodied crew heads for South Africa on ground breaking round the world voyage!!!

The 55-metre square rigger, Lord Nelson, is expected to arrive in Cape Town from Rio de Janeiro this weekend at the end of the second transatlantic leg of the ground breaking Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge. The voyage has been organised by UK-based charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust and is supported by international legal practice Norton Rose, which has five of its 42 offices in Africa.

The ship is designed to enable physically disabled and able-bodied crew to sail alongside each other as equals. A number of South Africans, both with and without disabilities, will join the Lord Nelson crew in Cape Town on 6 February for a seven-day coastal voyage, while others will embark on 16 February for the passage from Cape Town to Durban.

One of the South Africans taking part is 41-year-old Versha Rowjee, who has congenital spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.Originally from Mokopane in Limpopo, Rowjee now lives in Johannesburg where she works as an accountant. She will join the crew of Lord Nelson for the week-long voyage out of Cape Town.

The experience will be the latest of Rowjee’s personal challenges, which to date have included quad biking and scuba diving.

“I’m looking forward to an amazing adventure, being involved in the activities as part of the crew and the opportunity of my life,” Rowjee said.

“I’m very excited. I can’t wait and I have to consciously stop myself from talking to everyone about it all the time,” she added.

Another South African taking part is 52-year-old Mandy Latimore from Johannesburg, who has used a wheelchair following a climbing accident.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is being on the highest point possible on Lord Nelson,” the independent consultant within the disability sector, said.

Latimore, who has sailed on smaller boats in the past admits, she is an “adrenaline junkie” and has previously wing walked. “I can’t wait to join the ship. I’m counting the sleeps,” she added.

Lord Nelsonis an ambassador for equality and inclusion wherever she sails, and the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge is set to transform perceptions of what disabled and able-bodied people can achieve together, both in South Africa and around the world.

Over the course of 23 months, 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’ on board: 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.

“When the 35-strong crew of the Lord Nelson arrives in Cape Town this weekend at the end of the second transatlantic passage of the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge they will have achieved something remarkable of which they can all be justly proud. With disabled crew sailing alongside their able bodied counterparts as equals as they make their first landfall in Africa on the 23-month circumnavigation, each and every one of them is challenging perceptions of disability and that is what the Jubilee Sailing Trust and this ground breaking, round the world voyage is all about,” Alex Lochrane, CEO, Jubilee Sailing Trust, said.

“The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s mission is about inclusion, community and teamwork and, without this, Lord Nelson would never be able to make this amazing ocean journey,” Lochrane added.

Norton Rose is the title sponsor of this unique round-the-world voyage, and promoting their support under the banner of: “All abilities. All aboard.” The practice has one of the largest legal footprints in Africa and operates from five offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Dar es Salaam and Casablanca, with experience in more than 40 African countries.Norton Rose employees are looking forward to welcoming Lord Nelson and her crew to their shores when she docks in Cape Town and Durban, and a number of Norton Rose employees will sail on the ship on the voyages within South Africa.

“We are delighted to be involved and I am especially pleased about the positive responses our local participation has elicited in our offices, nationally and also internationally. This project is another excellent opportunity for us to live our principles of quality, unity and integrity,” Rob Otty, managing director of Norton Rose South Africa said.

After setting sail from Southampton in the UK on Sunday 21 October, buoyed by the resounding success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the crew of Lord Nelson arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 9 December following the first of three transatlantic legs in the historic circumnavigation.

A team of disabled and non-disabled sailors, led by a team of eight professional ‘permanent crew’, set sail from Rio on 11 January on the 3,455-mile passage to Cape Town via Tristan da Cunha, a group of remote volcanic islands in the South Atlantic.

Lord Nelsonwas built in the UK and first set sail in 1986. The bespoke features on board, including hearing loops, wheelchair lifts, integrated Braille instructions and speaking compasses, allow a disabled sailor to contribute to the voyage just as much as an able-bodied crew member and their interdependence creates a community aboard the ship for the duration of the voyage – a bond which remains long after the crew is back on dry land.

Berths are still available to sail on board the Lord Nelson during her inaugural visit to South Africa. No previous sailing experience is required and a wide range of physical disabilities can be accommodated. For more information, visit www.jst.org.ukor email  info@jst.org.uk.

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