Blind Sailing Week 2023
Published 14:22 on 1 Aug 2023
Every summer the Sailing Vision Trust host a week of sailing for the visually impaired. They alternate events between Lymington in the Solent and Falmouth. This year it was down in Cornwall hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club from 8th to 15th July.
This was my third Blind Sailing Week, I was assisted on board Ardea by SYC member Nick White, and Ben Slater, also SYC member Alan Kerr volunteered his services as mate on another yacht.
Before setting out all sighted crew are given training on how to guide and support our visually impaired (VI) colleagues. Sight loss varies between participants and can range from limited impairment to total sight loss. On Ardea we hosted Bob who is 75 years young, a very experienced sailor who has been blind since birth and a much younger Pardy who was relatively new to sailing and is coming to terms with his more recent sight loss.
Great importance is placed on safety and enjoyment on board; the mantra for the week is that the VIs are participants not passengers. We normally encourage the VIs to steer for most of the day, they also participate in most tasks on board from hoisting sails, making meals to putting out fenders. We had an audio compass and talking charts to help but feeling the wind on your cheek was often the navigation aid of choice. Shore based activities are part of the experience; so guiding back to boat after a trip to a yacht club bar added to the excitement and challenge for all!
20 boats and around 50 visually impaired sailors participated in the week supported by a similar number of sighted sailors as their guides. The boats were divided into 4 fleets starting and finishing at Falmouth Haven Marina. The weather was not too favourable this year and in the interests of safety and comfort some more adventurous plans were curtailed. We spent our time sailing to the Helford, Fowey and an enjoyable lunchtime anchorage off Mevagissey. We were storm bound in Falmouth for a couple of nights and as an alternative to sailing guided our VI crew around the Maritime Museum and Pendennis Castle. The week started and concluded with a dinner and reception at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, judging from the end of week speeches everyone had a great time and cant wait till next year. I am continually impressed by the adventurous spirit and courage of all our VI sailors who venture way beyond their comfort zone; there were tales of climbing the mast, wild swimming and coping with engine and electrical failures- so the full experience!
Next year the event will be hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club from 29th June to 6th July. If anyone is interested in participating, please let me know.
~ Peter Sandover
