Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Jazz Turner explains more about Project FEAR

by Magnus Smith 16 Apr 02:00 AEST 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.

Related Articles

The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?! Posted today at 11:00 am
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Some thoughts on provisioning for distance sailing
A new perspective on provisioning and time spent at sea One of the great joys of distance racing unfurls the moment that the dock lines are untied. Suddenly, the myriad packing lists that inevitably define most trip-planning efforts become about as relevant as a tax return from eight years ago. Posted on 1 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s. Posted on 15 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features. Posted on 12 Jun
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignBarton Marine Pipe Glands