SAILORS who completed a gruelling yachting race – despite having only three hands and three feet between them – are to be presented with a special award.
The Royal Yachting Association plans to recognise the achievement of Stuart MacDonald, Jamie Andrew and Alan Freestone at a meeting on Saturday.
The sailors took part in the North Sea Yacht Race last June, and the trio managed successfully to com
plete the journey from Norway to Scotland in less than 48 hours.
Stuart, from Musselburgh, who was born with fingers on only one hand, skippered the crew in his yacht Mrs Chippy.
He was joined by Jamie, a Morningside-based climber who lost his hands and feet in a climbing tragedy and Alan, from Skye, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident.
The crew raised more than £10,000, with most of it going to a charity to help amputees in developing countries.
The association's chairman, Hugh Henderson, wrote: "In recognition of your crew's achievements in sailing, we would like to present you with a Royal Yachting Association Special Award at our AGM."
Rod Carr OBE, the association's chief executive, will be making the presentation at Caledonia House, South Gyle.
The crew managed to sail through gale-force winds to complete the race a day earlier than expected.
They won third prize in their category, as well as a special award for "spirit of adventure".
The full article contains 238 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
