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TWO ANTIGUANS with disabilities sail with TENACIOUS |
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Compliments of the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and some persuasive muscle from the Association, two persons with disabilities from Antigua sailed on the TENACIOUS from April 7-21, 2004. Mr. Bernard Warner with single leg amputation, and Mr. Henley Tonge with paraplegia, were the first two persons with disabilities from Antigua and Barbuda to sail on a tall ship, but more impressively on the TENACIOUS! They took part in the Tall Ships World Peace Cup Race on April 17-18, 2004 that Tenacious won overall ahead of other world-renowned classic and traditional vessels. This was truly a voyage of a lifetime for guys who can be considered pioneers for persons with disabilities in our twin-island nation! Click here to read reports on this voyage, or visit the web site of the Jubilee Sailing Trust at http://www.jst.org.uk and click on "Voyage Updates." Here is the April 18, 2004 report: "VOYAGE TNS 110 We believe that after the handicap is taken into account we think we were third in yesterday's race. Today there is a course (!) and more wind. We crossed the start line 15 minutes ago, at 1000, with almost all sails already set so we have taken off at a good speed. I've just checked and we are doing 8.8 knots, really exhilarating. Stavros is behind us, on the port side but more in contention that she was yesterday. Sea Cloud, Star Clipper, and Fluertje are a way off on our port side and it is quite difficult to see where we are in relation to them. What a sail! Everyone did so well, moving from one job to the next purposefully, the practice we had yesterday certainly showed. We crossed the finish line at 12.35:02, precisely. Ahead of us were Fluertje and Star Clipper so we did really well, they are fast ships. We won't know till much later how we did but everyone feels well satisfied with our performance. We will be having lunch, once the gangway is rigged, and then there are to be all sorts of jollifications on Pigeon Beach. Each bolt/ship has been asked to compete in various competitions - knot tying, dinghy racing and tug-of-war. There is to be a Bar-B-Q and the prizes will be awarded. This has been a fantastic weekend for us, competing in the races really drew the team together in a way that would be difficult under other circumstances, the wind was good, the sun has been shining and everyone is happy to have done so much, so well. NEWS FLASH! The prize giving has taken place. SV Tenacious was awarded the following prizes: 1st for Seamanship 1st for Clear Deck 1st for Bright Work 2nd for Knot Tying Award for the Longest Serving Chef (Graham, what a star!) and Overall Winner of the Tall Ships World Peace Cup 2004!!! This is a wonderful cut and engraved glass globe, with the dove of peace on top, quite magnificent, and a real honour to win. For those of us who took part in the most enjoyable prize of all to win, was the Tug-of-war Cup! In the first round, our two wheelchair users* were moved into place and their wheels buried up to the hubs. (What better anchor men could you find?) Everyone else joined on around them and trounced all the opposition teams. It was then suggested that there should be a women's tug-of-war. Not to be daunted, we girls rolled up our sleeves and took on all comers, three heats in quick succession, and beat them all! I think we are all now quite exhausted but happy to have done so well. Anyone, here, who didn't know about the Jubilee Sailing Trust before, and what we do, certainly does now! On corrected time for the races we didn't come in the first three but who cares? We all worked hard, people did things they never dreamed possible, they have taken part in an International event and given a really good account of ourselves, and had a lot of fun. Who could ask for more? Updated by: Sue Kenny-Medical Personnel Personal accounts from Bernard and Hanley including pictures will be posted soon. *One of them was Henley. |
