Published: Thursday, 3rd April, 2008 09:30
Sailors' award
Comments (0)
Print Article
THREE disabled sailors who raced a yacht across the North Sea – with only three hands and three feet to call upon – have been honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony in Edinburgh.
Crew members Stuart MacDonald, Alan Freestone and Jamie Andrew received the ‘Special Award for Achievement’ from Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Scotland following their heroic performance in the North Sea Yacht Race last June.
The yacht, ‘Mrs Chippy’, was skippered by Musselburgh sailor Stuart MacDonald, who was born in Whitecraig but now lives in Stoneyhill Place.
The 47-year-old was born without fingers on one of his hands while fellow shipmate Jamie Andrew lost his hands and feet after suffering severe frostbite on a mountaineering expedition. Alan Freestone lost part of his leg last year in a motorbike accident.
Despite their disabilities, the determined sailors finished third in their class, and ninth overall in the race from the Norwegian port of Skudeneshavn to Macduff on the north east of Scotland – a distance of 270 miles.
Speaking to the Courier, Skipper Stuart MacDonald said the trio were “humbled” to receive the award for their achievements on the high seas.
“We were all really surprised because it’s like a national award,” he said.
“It’s incredibly humbling to be acknowledged by senior yachtsmen who you have held in admiration for a long time.
“In short it was lovely and we had a fantastic day.”
A small carbon fibre yacht on a wooden plinth and a bottle of whisky were presented to the men by RYA UK chief executive, Rod Carr, at the annual ceremony in Caledonia House last Saturday.
RYA Scotland chairman, Hugh Henderson, who was part of the judging panel, said: “Sailing is a sport you can take part in if you have disabilities but what these three men achieved was truly remarkable.
“They faced severe conditions which would have pushed even the fittest and most able of sailors to their limits, and came through it to finish well.
They’re a real credit to Scottish sailing and deserving winners of this award.”
The adventurers collected more £10,500 from corporate sponsors to compete in the race.
All funds raised by the race were donated to a new charity, founded by Jamie Andrew, called ‘500 Miles’, which aims to provide prosthetic limbs for amputees around the world.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Callous break-in at church deprives poor kids abroad of Xmas gifts