Sailing through adversity

Russell Watts wants to change people's perceptions of multiple sclerosis. Photo / Dean Purcell

Russell Watts lives with the effects of a traumatic brain injury and on top of that, he has multiple sclerosis.

But despite those obstacles, the 48-year-old from Taupo has become a successful para-athlete (duathlon) and now hopes to add crewing an ocean-going yacht to his list of achievements.

The married father of two young adults - and Lake Taupo dinghy sailor - is awaiting final approval from the Denmark-based Sailing Sclerosis Foundation for him to fly to Darwin in July to help crew the round-the-world yacht Oceans of Hope to Singapore.

His motivation? "To change people's perceptions of MS and what can be achieved."

The 20m Danish yacht arrived at Westhaven, Auckland, from Tonga on Wednesday, on its two-year global journey which started in Copenhagen last June.

Mr Watts' aim aligns with that of the foundation's head, Mikkel Anthonisen. "Oceans of Hope is about giving hope and providing possibilities to a group of people living with MS," said Dr Anthonisen.

Mr Watts was diagnosed with MS in 2010 after he suffered brain injuries in two motorcycle accidents.

An MRI scan ordered during his injury care revealed the multiple areas of scarring or "sclerosis" in the central nervous system that indicate MS.