Premier to Welcome the World's Largest Operating Wooden-Hulled Tall Ship

On Friday, 6 April, Premier Helen Zille will officially welcome the world's largest operating wooden hulled tall ship – Tenacious – as it sails into Cape Town from the Falkland Islands.

Tenacious is purpose-built to be sailed by a mixed-ability crew – both able-bodied and sailors with disability. The voyage is managed by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which envisions the voyage as an opportunity “to unlock human potential and break down barriers between people of different circumstances - especially between people living with disability and the able-bodied”.

The ship was built 16 years ago by the Jubilee Sailing Trust in Southampton (United Kingdom) by 1 500 volunteers, approximately half of whom were living with some form of disability.

Tenacious has features not seen on other vessels, including: six wheelchair lifts between the decks; deck ribs and a speaking compass for the vision impaired; vibrating alarm pads under the bunks for the hearing impaired; and the ability to helm her with the traditional wheel or a joystick in the case of limited user mobility.

Tenacious has voyaged over 20,000 nautical miles from Southampton, via the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand, delivering​ a programme of voyages &and day sails in charitable partnership work over 18 months around the southern hemisphere. This is seen as the start of an ongoing relationship with this part of the world. 

On Friday, Premier Zille will welcome the ship, which will dock in Cape Town for three days before departing for the 46-day voyage to Antigua, Caribbean on 9 April.

All media are invited to attend. There will be a tour of the ship and an opportunity for interviews and photographs. 

Details:

Date: Friday, 6 April 2018
Venue: Quay 6 on the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Time: 11:00