The blind, the epileptic and the wheelchair-bound have crewed a Tall Ship on a circumnavigation. The first ship to circle the world with disabled crew members completed its two-year journey to moor alongside HMS Belfast on the Thames in central London.

Lord Nelson was crewed by a disabled and able-bodied team and accompanied by Tenacious, its 65-metre sister ship. During its voyage quadriplegic, deaf, PTSD and road traffic sufferers have all crewed the ship.
 
Both ships belong to the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which gives people of all physical abilities, including those with significant disabilities, the opportunity to experience life changing experiences outside their normal routine.
 
Lord Nelson, which cost £2 million to build, was custom built and utilises technology that includes a mouthpiece that allows quadriplegics to steer the ship with their mouth.
 
Purpose-built equipment means that users can reach the crow’s nest at sea, which is so high people can see the curvature of the earth, and partially-sighted or blind people can climb the rigging. The ship also has wheelchair lifts between decks, braille signage, hearing loops and hand rails.
 
Jubilee Sailing Trust’s partnership with global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright was established in October 2012.
 
The Norton Rose Fulbright Sail the World challenge set sail from Southampton in September 2012, and since then has carried the Olympic Torch to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and crossed the Indian Ocean to Kochi, India.
 
She took part in the International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour, and was the first mixed-ability vessel to sail around the infamous Cape Horn in southern Chile in February this year.
 
Duncan Souster, Chief Executive of the Jubilee Sailing Trust, said:
 
“This is a fantastic achievement by all those on board. They’ve travelled 51,000 miles and visited over 30 countries, all to promote the message of inclusion and in the process had a truly life-changing experience navigating the world’s oceans. The dedication of our expert team is helping to change the perception of what can be achieved by disabled people.”
 
Tim Marsden, deputy managing partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, said:
 
“We are immensely proud to have been involved in such a hugely ambitious project. We have supported disadvantaged and disabled communities, financially and voluntarily, through the Norton Rose Fulbright Sail the World Challenge, which has seen our people and our clients raise disability awareness and promote diversity on a global scale.”
 
During its voyage the ship:
Travelled 51,000 nautical miles
Crossed the equator 6 times
Was crewed by over 1,000 people – including 350 with a physical disability
Served over 2 million meals
Consumed ½ a million apples
Called in to over 100 different ports