Jubilee Sailing Trust - Be Inspired: Meet Jess

The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a Southampton based charity that promotes the integration of able-bodied and disabled men and woman through the medium of tall ship sailing. The JST owns an operates the only two tall ships on the planet that have been specifically designed to cater for people of all abilities. They are called Lord Nelson and Tenacious Lord Nelson is currently embarked on her maiden circumnavigation. This staggering 50,000 mile voyage is made even more incredible by the crew, people like Jess, who come on board and become part of the adventure Jess Mellish is a 16 year-old from New Zealand who was sponsored to travel with JST through the special needs unit at Te Puke High School. Jess has condition called Septo-optic Dysplasia, which caused the loss of her sight. On her voyage in New Zealand she climbed the mast in an incredible display of bravery. Lord Nelson is a 55-metre square rigged vessel that was purpose built in 1986 and has, along with her sister ship, Tenacious, had 40,000 customers. Of those, 15,000 have been disabled and 5,000 have been wheelchair users.