Sir John Collins, Chairman of the Dixons Group, will be launching a new appeal on behalf of the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) aimed at repaying the £4 million still outstanding on the construction of the JST’s second square-rigger Tenacious. A reception will be held on 4 October at the Lord Chancellor’s residence where the Enabling Tenacious Appeal will be formally launched.

JST aims to integrate abled and disabled alike through sailing. Their first ship, Lord Nelson, was commissioned in 1986 and since her launch, over 17,000 people of all ages, backgrounds have sailed together onboard the specially designed tall ship, 7,000 of whom are disabled in some way, including 3,000 in wheelchairs.

The increasing demand for berths on the Lord Nelson prompted JST to commission a second ship in September 2000. Tenacious is the largest wooden ship built in the UK in the last 100 years and her build cost £14.3 million, much of it donated by supporters and corporate partners, supplementing a Sport England Lottery grant.

A team of professional shipwrights was assisted by over 1,500 volunteers of varying abilities, true to the JST’s ideal of able-bodied and disabled working together.

The appeal is intended to raise enough money to repay the outstanding mortgage of £4 million. If the mortgage runs to term, the JST will need to find an extra £1.9 million in interest charges.