GAC welcomes tall ship Tenacious and its mixed-ability crew to Sydney

Members of GAC Pindar Superyacht Services team were on the ground in Sydney, Australia last week to celebrate the arrival of the Jubilee Sailing Trust flagship Tenacious and her mixed-ability crew, after she completed her 17,000nm voyage from Southampton, England.

Supported by GAC every step of the way, Tenacious set sail from the UK in November last year as part of her work to give people of all physical abilities the chance to experience sailing first hand.

She is a three-masted square-rigged 586GT tall ship, and one of two specially designed sailing vessels owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which was set up in 1978. 

Murray Bishop, GAC Pindar Superyacht Services manager explained, “The trust’s mission is to empower both able-bodied and disabled individuals to focus on what they can do, rather than what they can’t, and to correct misconceptions about disability. It works to build bridges and break down barriers for a better, more inclusive world. 

“Throughout her travels, the GAC global network provided Tenacious with a range of support services; including port agency, fuel supplies, Panama Canal transit coordination and spare parts logistics, all coordinated through GAC Pindar Superyacht Services.” 

Upon her arrival in Sydney, two other sailing ships and a fire tug were waiting to escort Tenacious under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to Darling Harbour, where a large crowd was waiting at her berth at the Australian National Maritime Musuem. 

Simon Catterson, master of the Tenacious said, “It was a fantastic welcome to our final destination. We’d been through gales, fog, thunderstorms, tropical downpours and some really great sailing under blue, sunny skies. 

“Since coming through the Panama Canal in January, we’ve visited 10 different countries. GAC has organised agency services in each and has looked after us very well indeed, ensuring that clearing-in to Australia was as painless as possible.” 

It had been a voyage of firsts: The first time in her 16-year history that Tenacious had transited the Panama Canal; and the first time she crossed the equator, west of the Galapagos Islands, to enter the southern hemisphere in March.

Andy Spark, the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s ship operations manager said, “It was great to know we had the support of the GAC Pindar Superyacht Services team and GAC’s global network throughout Tenacious’s latest adventure. The practical and moral support from a reliable partner like GAC, with the resources and reach to help meet our needs wherever we go, cannot be overstated. It played a key role in our mission to overcome preconceived ideas about disabilities and help our crew members win confidence, new friends and real team spirit.”

Murray concluded, “We are strong advocates of the fantastic work of the Jubilee Sailing Trust to open up the world of sailing to people with disabilities, and we are proud to have supported the Tenacious. We look forward to continuing to look after her during her time in and around Australia, and beyond.”

For more information, visit GAC Pindar Superyacht Services.