the Lord Nelson , a ship specially designed for disabled people.

Mr. Rasool said people in wheelchairs had access to the whole ship, from the bottom deck to the crow's nest. Lifts brought them from belowdecks to the top deck. Another lift went up the mast beside the ladder. The cabins and bathrooms were bigger than normal to allow room for those in wheelchairs to manoeuvre.

To navigate, Mr. Rasool an auditory compass. He explained that it alerted him with different beeps if the ship was drifting off course to port or starboard, then told him what the current bearing was. Arrows were engraved on the handrail, giving a constant touch-reference of direction on board the ship.

And in night emergencies, the deaf were not excluded from the warning; the bunks shook.

The visiting crew consisted of 12 handicapped people, of whom six were in wheelchairs. The rest were not disabled.

The Lord Nelson and her crew sailed to France, where they docked at two ports, including Brest. The crew held an open house on deck, demonstrating how handicapped people could hoist sails and get around a ship. Mr. Rasool boasted, "The Lord Nelson was the most popular ship in the port.'' The trip was "an experience I will never forget'', he said. "From the captain down, it was like one family.'' The captain praised the crew as one of the best he could remember.

Mr. Rasool, who went on the trip with volunteer Mr. Paul Simmons, was the thirteenth disabled Bermudian to be sent out on the ship by the Bermuda Sailor's Home since 1989.

Mr. Rasool, who is in his early sixties, is a member of the local Moslem community. He said, "They're used to me now. They call on me to do anything -- except move their cars.'' Before going on the Lord Nelson , Mr. Rasool said that he had no sailing experience apart from being on a boat in 1991 at the Bank of Butterfield charity race during the Gold Cup. He now hopes to take part in the Newport-Bermuda Race in 1994.

Mr. Abouwi Rasool.