STS Lord Nelsons disabled access ocean adventure.

In 1985, the Jubilee Sailing Trust commissioned STS Lord Nelson, a three-masted barque, which launched in October 1986. The ship, designed by Colin Mudie, is purpose-built to allow a small professional crew and voyage crew of 40 people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side on equal terms. The project, the brain child of Christopher Rudd, aims to integrate able-bodied and disabled persons through tall ship sailing.

Today STS Lord Nelson is in Plymouth, en route to the Bahamas. Ian Shuttleworth talks about how the trust helped him and many others experience the freedom and adventure of the sea, giving people a sense of community while learning new skills.

The STS Lord Nelson built specifically to be accessible for all, with eight wheelchair cabins with two bunks each, the remaining accommodation being dorm-style. The vessel is equipped with additional measures to allow disabled people to sail. The Lord Nelson sailed over 240,000 miles to date around the world, visiting 30 countries spanning all seven continents.

Decommissioned on 11 October 2019, after sailing for 33 years and completing 16,000 successful voyages around the world. Its life span was limited to 30-40 years due to its steel hull and high demand for the service, hence the construction of the SV Tenacious for £14.3 million, built out of wood with an estimated 60-100-year lifespan. The Tenacious and Lord Nelson are the only two tall ships in the world purpose built for a crew of disabled and non-disabled people.