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At just 27 years old, Jazz Turner from Seaford, East Sussex, has recently achieved a remarkable feat by sailing solo around the UK and Ireland. Despite facing a grim prognosis due to an incurable condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, she has refused to let her health challenges deter her from pursuing her dreams. Diagnosed ten years ago, Jazz’s condition has progressively worsened, resulting in severe muscular, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular complications. Doctors estimate she may have around two years left, though Jazz remains hopeful for more time and focuses on living fully.
Jazz’s resilience is rooted not only in her own determination but also in the support network surrounding her. She credits her partner, Adam; her foster parents, Chris and Carolyn; friends from the local Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club; along with over 100 members of Sailability, a boating charity for disabled sailors, for helping her maintain a positive outlook. Sailing provides her a rare sense of freedom, where she is seen simply as a sailor rather than being defined by her wheelchair or disability. “At sea, Mother Nature couldn’t care less who you are, what you are or where you come from – all it cares about is your ability to adapt to the conditions,” she explains.
Last summer, Jazz demonstrated extraordinary adaptability by completing a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland—a journey lasting 28 days through challenging weather and rough seas. Without the aid of any engines, support crews, or medical assistance, she navigated purely by her own skill and endurance. Her health difficulties, including fainting spells and joint dislocations, required her to remain calm under pressure, sometimes strapping herself in and waiting patiently until she regained consciousness. Despite moments of exhaustion and frustration, she found solace and renewed motivation in the natural beauty surrounding her, recalling particularly a pod of dolphins swimming alongside her vessel.
Jazz’s life story has been marked by adversity from an early age. With divorced parents, an absent father living overseas, and a mother battling addiction, her childhood was unsettled, moving frequently between countries and schools. In her late teens, she became effectively homeless and lived alone in a camper van. Eventually, support from her sailing club led to her foster family and helped her rebuild her life. After receiving a final medical prognosis in December 2023, Jazz chose to stop treatment that limited her quality of life. She embraces a philosophy of living each day to the fullest: “What I decided was that I would plan as if I have forever, but live as if I only have today.”
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