Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 3

Jazz Turner explains more about Project FEAR

by Magnus Smith 15 Apr 17:00 BST 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

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
Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun
Funding for clubs transforms sailing opportunities
During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from UK clubs about their experiences During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from a range of UK clubs, walking through their case studies, and then heard from experts in finance who talked us through the opportunities and pitfalls of acquiring funds. Posted on 26 Jun
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
Project FEAR turns southwards
Charity circumnavigation progress report from the Shetland Islands Last month I didn't even know that Muckle Flugga existed. Yet today, the very name of the island brought tears of emotion to my eyes, as I heard Jazz Turner scream it out in victory, in a video she took when passing the lighthouse. Posted on 22 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
Jazz Turner's fundraising target is smashed
Already £30k raised for Sailability, so it's time to up the ante Jazz Turner has now passed the northern-most tip of Ireland and is on her way to the Shetland Islands, and at the same time her fundraising total of £30,000 has been smashed! Posted on 15 Jun
The X-Yachts Gold Cup Experience
A celebration of sailing, of X-Yachts and, most importantly of all, people Having just returned from Haderslev, Denmark - which is the home of X-Yachts and played host to the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2025 - I was left wondering if this was a racing event, a rally or a social celebration amongst close friends. Posted on 10 Jun
Jazz Turner is now nearing Ireland
Fundraising circumnavigation almost hits the £30k target after just 8 days afloat As at the 10th June Jazz is 8 days out from Brighton, and starting to near Ireland. Jazz had hoped to be further along than this, but the winds have been forcing her to stay close-hauled ever since she started. Posted on 10 Jun