Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge
We are proud to announce our partnership with the Jubilee Sailing Trust to support the tall ship Lord Nelson as she embarks on the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge, taking crews of able-bodied and disabled sailors around the world. This has never been attempted before.
Between October 2012 and late 2014, Lord Nelson will sail four times across the Equator, covering 50,000 miles, seven continents and 30 countries. Lord Nelson – built and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust – is one of only two tall ships in the world equipped to sail with a mixed crew of disabled and able-bodied sailors.
Lord Nelson is a square-rigged, three-masted, 55-metre barque. Her equipment includes hoists to enable crew members in wheelchairs to be lifted up the rigging. She is regularly crewed by people with cerebral palsy, people who are blind and people who have suffered amputations and spinal injuries. Everyone on board plays a role in sailing the tall ship and the Jubilee Sailing Trust is experienced in showing all crew members the full extent of what they are capable of on board the ship, requiring and enabling the crew to bond and work as an integrated team for the duration of each voyage.
Across the practice, we support a number of charitable organisations through our corporate responsibility and diversity programmes and we aim to work with local charities to offer disabled individuals the opportunity of joining the in-country voyage when Lord Nelson visits South Africa, Australia and Singapore.
Continuing the legacy
The London 2012 Paralympic Games were a step change for shifting people’s perception towards disability and we are immensely proud to be involved in a project that builds on that awareness and promotes integration. We have offices in many of the countries covered by the Challenge and plan to take full advantage of our geographical coverage to maintain awareness and build on the spirit of inclusion.
We wish Lord Nelson and all who sail on her a safe and memorable voyage.