The Danish yacht, Oceans of Hope, has set sail from Copenhagen on a historic global voyage. It is the first ever circumnavigation of the world by a yacht crewed by people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
Oceans of Hope is the flagship of a campaign by the same name, organised by the Sailing Sclerosis Foundation. The aim of the 17-month project is to change perceptions of MS by showing what is possible when people with a chronic disease are empowered to conquer their individual challenges.
The crew who set sail from Amaliehaven this afternoon on the 61,000-kilometre (33,000-nautical mile) voyage have been involved in establishing an active network across Denmark of groups of people with MS who sail on a regular basis. Through sailing events organised during stopovers in the 20 ports of call they want to widen those networks between the MS and the sailing worlds and help create a valuable legacy for the Oceans of Hope project.
The route will take the yacht from Copenhagen to Kiel, Germany, for the first stopover from 19-22 June, followed by Amsterdam, Netherlands (26-29 June), Portsmouth, UK (3-6 July), La Rochelle, France (10-14 July), Lisbon, Portugal (25 July ñ 2 August) and across the Atlantic Ocean to Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the crew is due to arrive on 8 September. Oceans of Hope will take centre stage at the joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS conference, the world’s largest annual international conference devoted to basic and clinical research in multiple sclerosis.
The Sailing Sclerosis Foundation’s yacht Oceans of Hope was unveiled at a ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark on World MS Day (Wednesday 28 May). Former Environment Minister and MEP Lone Dybkær officially named the 20-metre yacht which will set sail from the Danish capital on 15 June on the first ever global circumnavigation crewed by people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The Oceans of Hope project aims to change the perceptions of the disease, inspiring people with MS to overcome their own personal challenges by telling the stories of those taking part – including the highs and the lows – and hosting sailing events in ports of call during the 17-month voyage around the world.
Dr Mikkel Anthonisen is the founder of the Sailing Sclerosis Foundation and creator of the Oceans of Hope project.
He said, ‘Today’s naming ceremony is a huge milestone in our project. Our plan to sail around the world with a crew of people with MS is another step closer to being realized and we will be carrying the hopes and dreams of so many people with us. From the modest beginning when we took a small group of people sailing it shows what can be achieved when people with a chronic disease are empowered to conquer their individual challenges.’
For more information and to follow the team go to http://www.sailingsclerosis.com/