Jazz Turner explains more about Project FEAR
by Magnus Smith 15 Apr 2025 09:00 PDT
11 April 2025
FEAR = Face Everything And Rise © Magnus Smith
If you missed the news about Jazz Turner last month, here's the story in her own words:
"In June 2025 I am attempting to become the first female wheelchair user to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the British Isles. Throughout the journey I am hoping to raise £30,000 for Newhaven & Seaford Sailability to provide new boats and assistive technology."
I caught up with Jazz at a launch event she hosted in Brighton Marina. She explained how her mission is to prove that so many things are possible, despite gender/background/disability. She cited "the pure freedom I get when on the water" as the most important thing to her. Most of us sailors can appreciate that, but what we cannot really empathise with is being told you may only have 6 months to live.
Hearing Jazz say, "How to keep on living when you don't know how long you have? The answer is to plan as if you have forever, but live as if you only have today," broke my heart. How this woman can say such a thing, and then be cracking jokes like, "I'm worried how I will smell after 8 weeks with no shower," amazes me. She has more guts than most of us who will be left behind!
Roughly 45 people attended the event, many with questions she was happy to answer. The first was about how much dog food would be packed for a 4-8 week circumnavigation, but it turns out her golden retriever will have to be left behind. Despite being a very helpful assistance dog, it's enough to cope with looking after one lifeform on a small yacht that cannot stop for provisioning, let alone two.
As much as 8 weeks? Yes, because Jazz is going round Muckle Flugga, in the Shetland Islands, as well as Ireland. There are no sneaky shortcuts through the Caledonian Canal or past John o'Groats! Her rules for herself are: she cannot enter harbour, and cannot use the engine, but could anchor if needed. She's a racer at heart, so doesn't like the latter idea! Thankfully the autopilot will be a great help.
I asked Jazz what was next in her planning, now the yacht 'FEAR' was ready. She talked about practice trips - to Dover, the Isle of Wight, and France - and then mentioned needing to try a mast climb, and being thrown overboard too. However, she clarified that the difficult part was not the sailing (that's the easy bit, she says!) but how the test trips will teach her how much water is needed, how easy it is to prepare food, and whether the power generation will work well enough. There is so much to think of beyond navigation, sail trim and steering!
So it's great she can devote all her time to this project? Oh no! Jazz casually mentions that she is soon racing an RS Venture in the Swiss Cup (not to mention founding a UK Class Association) as well as running coaching weekends for other Sailability centres. She is still giving her time to others! She got involved in Sailability because she knows what sailing means to her, and wants others to get that too. "I like to share the independence," she says.
What an inspiration she is.
Keep an eye on projectfear.uk as the start date of 2nd June approaches.