Wheelchair-accessible catamaran to complete Australian visits in Darwin

AN ITALIAN-MADE wheelchair-accessible catamaran will receive a royal welcome when it visits Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin later this month.

Lo Spirito Di Stella is the result of the Wheels on Waves initiative, which aims to provide wounded, injured or ill veterans and defence personnel worldwide the opportunity to sail onboard.

Darwin is the last stop for the Australian leg of the 18-metre catamaran’s current around-the-world voyage, Wheels on the World 2023-2025, following visits to Brisbane’s HMAS Moreton and Cairns’ HMAS Cairns in August and September.

Supported by the Italian Ministry of Defence, the vessel aims to promote goodwill among the military personnel of different countries, and thank them for serving their respective nations, with the ship providing opportunities to sail while in port or when transiting between Australian ports.

Lo Spirito Di Stella is the creation of Andrea Stella, who operates the ship, and is paraplegic himself, specifically designing the vessel not just for those in wheelchairs, but for those with disabilities generally, aiming to provide accessibility and comfort for everybody.

Dr Stella’s mission has garnered support from both the Australian public and authorities; members of the Australian Defence Force held and attended a reception for the ship’s arrival to Brisbane, while Cairns’ Mayor Amy Eden attended a welcome for the ship in Cairns.

Director of the ADF sport program, Brigadier Phil Winter said Lo Spirito Di Stella brings a powerful message. To support the vessel’s voyage across Australia, the ADF encouraged wounded, injured or ill, current or former personnel to participate, as well as providing port and logistics support.

The vessel’s visit to Darwin, scheduled to arrive 24 September, will see it rejoin with Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian Navy training ship, inspired in design by the style of late-18^th century ships of the line, both ships having begun their voyages departing from Genoa, Italy last year.

Amerigo Vespucci, whose world tour intends to promote Italy’s historical tradition and culture across five continents, is scheduled to visit Darwin in early October, where the two vessels will sail from together to return to Italy for early 2025.

The vessels will next visit ports across Asia and the Middle East before returning to Europe.