ON THE WATER
Jazz says unexpected acts of kindness kept her going during her circumnavigation.
Achievements
‘I’m just a sailor…’ A
fter months at sea, battling tides and the elements, 26-year-old Jazz Turner arrived back
on dry land at the end of June, having sailed an extraordinary 2,070-mile solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland. In what would be an achievement for anyone, Jazz completed the voyage whilst coping with a progressive illness, making her challenge as much about resilience as sailing. Jazz is a GB para-athlete,
engineer and the founder of Sailability Seaford & Newhaven, a community-driven initiative making sailing accessible for people with disabilities. Diagnosed with a condition that left her using a wheelchair full-time, she refused to let that limit her time on the water, launching ‘Project Fear’ (Face Everything And Rise) to prove that sailing is for everyone. Not only did she complete
the voyage in record time, she also raised over £50,000 to fund adaptive sailing equipment and
Para-athlete Jazz Turner tells us about her recent incredible solo voyage
opportunities for two of her most vital groups.
Was there a moment that stood out during your journey? Sailing around Muckle Flugga, the most northern part of the UK, was surreal. I hadn’t even planned the second half of the route because I didn’t think I’d make it that far! Also, the kindness I encountered, including messages from Ben Ainslie and Ellen MacArthur. I received many messages which lifted me on the days I couldn’t lift myself.
Tell us about your work with Sailability.
My condition is progressive. I grew up able-bodied and raced in the youth squads – sailing dinghies including Lasers and 420s. But when I was 19, I had to transition into using my wheelchair full-time
and realised I couldn’t sail safely World Championships, before having to retire, and that’s when I discovered Sailability. But when I looked into joining a Sailability group, I was told I was too medically complex and would need an able-bodied person on board at all times. So, with my parents’ help, I founded our own group, Sailability Seaford & Newhaven. I wanted to create a space where people like me could have a community and real opportunities on the water.
Where did the idea of ‘Project Fear’ come from? In December 2023, I was told that if a complication arose, they’d be forced to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. I was given six months to live. As that time passed and I was still alive, I decided to live like I had forever, but act like I only had today. So I decided to attempt a sail around
the UK and Ireland.
What role has
sailing played in your life personally? Sailing is my career – I’m an instructor and a coach. But it’s also my community, my family. I met my foster parents through sailing. When I talk about giving back, it’s because I was given so much. If I can even do a little of what others did for me, it’ll be the greatest privilege of my life. On land, people see a young girl in a wheelchair who needs a lot of support. But on the water, no one sees the disability. I’m just a sailor. Sailing has this magical way of levelling
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Photos: Tom Pilston/The Observer
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