Sailboat Crewed by MS Patients Circumnavigating the Globe

Oceans of Hope, a 67-foot sail yacht currently docked at North Cove Marina, New York, is on a round-the-world voyage to become the first ship to ever circumnavigate with a crew of people who have Multiple Sclerosis. The voyage, initiated by Sailing Sclerosis Foundation, set sail from Copenhagen, Denmark on June 15th 2014. While in New York, Oceans of Hope will be in New York from November 11-16, and will feature sailing days for local MS patients, and her crew will visit a local MS patient care center. Oceans of Hope will host events and ports of call during the 17 months voyage to allow as many people as possible to participate in sailing activities. In every port of call, local MS patients are taken day-sailing aboard Oceans of Hope and a variety of other sailing craft to introduce them to the freedom that sailing provides.

The vessel is scheduled to call at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 5-9, where it will be recognized again at the MSF Hats Off Gala with a Beacon of Light Award. On the first leg of its voyage, Oceans of Hope has already called at Kiel, Germany; Amsterdam, Holland; Portsmouth, England; LaRochelle, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Boston, Massachusetts.

Oceans of Hope is a Sailing Sclerosis Foundation project that aims to change perceptions of multiple sclerosis, inspiring people with the disease to overcome their own personal challenges by telling the stories of those taking part in the first ever circumnavigation in a vessel crewed by people with MS.

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