I love sailing onboard Tenacious, it’s one of my favourite places to be. Feeling the wind in your hair, watching dolphins jump around the ship, the satisfaction of climbing the mast or setting the sails is so amazing. Its such a liberating feeling.
I have a physical disability that affects the muscles in my arms and legs. There are so many things that aren’t accessible to me, that I can’t do, or are very difficult for me. Whilst onboard I forget my disability – everything is accessible to me and I’m able to participate in sailing the ship on an equal footing to everyone else. The loss of Tenacious would further limit my opportunities, as there is no other Tall Ship in the world that I can sail on.
Whilst the world is so much more inclusive than it used to be, there’s still work to be done. Tenacious and being on board breaks down stereotypes and assumptions made about disabled people. It also empowers us to believe that we can contribute, and disabled people are important in the world. I’d like to believe this opportunity will continue to be there for future generations of disabled people to experience and benefit from.