Born bereft of a section of his lower spine, Fearnley has yet to allow his physical condition to inhibit his passion for sport and adventure and he will have to crawl aboard the boat having not been able to take his wheelchair.

"I'm as able as it is possible to get," said the 30-year-old wheelchair racer, who has won nine Paralympic medals, including three gold. 

"I can't fall over and I'm as fast on my hands and knees as any of the other crew members.

"It is my first dabble into competitive sailing but it is one that I am really looking forward to."

"I've been involved with charities such as Don't DIS my ABILITY for years and Phil [Kearns, another crew member] has his Humpty Dumpty charity.

"He started talking to me about the Hobart race and the way the yacht he was sailing on raised money for the Loyal Foundation.

"He said that last year they raised more than $700,000 (£450,000/€541,000) and he introduced me to the yacht's owner, Anthony Bell.

"I said to Bell that I'd love to give sailing a try and he said if I wanted to give it a go and could handle the work, I was in.

"Everyone was a bit nervous the first time I went out, but I proved I was as able as it was possible to get."

Fearnley's combination of a small stature and great upper-body strength means he is well suited to working the electric winches and maintaining the sheets and ropes.

He will be joined on the Investec Loyal by former Australian Rugby Union players Kearns and Phil Waugh, and the boxer Danny Green.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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