To sail. To spread a wing in the air and soar. No internal power. No fuel, just atmospheric energy. The only motion created by the elements of wind and water. To some humans, sailing calls as powerfully as the ancient lure of flight itself, and to those who pursue it, the passion only increases. Can you imagine the feeling for the sailor who is blind?
Where a sighted sailor might look up at the telltales - small ribbons on the aft edge of the sail that indicate optimum wind flow - blind sailors learn to use other senses, such as the feel of the wind on their faces to determine direction, intensity, and critical shifts.
Sailing promotes self-confidence, provides socialization, makes you mentally tough, and gives you the ability to multitask - there are all kinds of abilities that arise from the challenge of competition that go beyond sailing.
To enjoy sailing, blind sailors require no special boats or adaptive equipment. However, boats small enough to provide a responsive helm are recommended. Steering with a tiller rather than a wheel is preferable to improve a blind sailor's ability to "feel" the boat. Equipment such as talking compasses and whistles can be used to provide audio orientation and assure safety. Some blind sailors may also prefer tactile markings.
Blind Sailing International (BSI) Regattas include boats ranging from the 23 foot Sonar to the 36 foot Farr design. BSI prefers to use boats crewed by two blind and two sighted persons. Over the years, several attempts have been made to create aids for blind sailors: noise-making telltales, talking GPS. These would allow blind sailors to handle boats with a minimum of assistance from sighted crew.
Some have learned to incorporate such simple items as kitchen timers and pieces of tape on the sheets to give a sense of sail trim. Talking GPS and compass systems are developing, but are expensive and unnecessary, say some blind sailors!
So don’t be surprised if the next successful circumnavigation is completed by a sailor without sight. For where there is passion there is always a vision!
