Great Britain arrive in the USA for the 2017 Blind Fleet Racing World Championship

by Lucy Hodges 11 Sep 2017 16:28 AEST 11-17 September 2017

Great Britain arrive in the USA for the 2017 Blind Fleet Racing World Championship © Blind Sailing

GBR have landed in Sheboygan, the weather is warm and the breeze is steady 12 - 15 knots. The blind fleet racing is raced in a team of four in sight categories B1, B2, and B3. B1 being those with no sight up to B3 those with conditions that reduce their sight like tunnel vision. Each boat is made up of a sighted tactician and sighted crew with a visually impaired helm and mainsheet trimmer.

Great Britain has worked hard to increase the number of both sighted and visually impaired sailors, this year sees four new sighted sailors take part in the World Championships. It is exciting to see GBR expand, new B2 crew Colin Midgley said, "It's exciting to be at the venue, in its self, it is a beautiful spot. It has been great sharing the event with locals in Sheboygan, creating interest in the event. Today we have received our team kit, which feels great and I feel set for tomorrow's practice racing".

Justin Smith, the new tactician for the B3b team said, "It's a great sense of pride representing GBR, I am slightly apprehensive wanting to do well for team and country but excited at the same time".

The team has spent Sunday learning about the area and working with local Todd Wake about the weather and how the different breezes will affect the racing. This has been key learning especially for those that have not sailed in this area before. Then the team got to grips with the new kit and would like to say thank you to:

Barton Marine for radio which will also be used for future events and train
Marine Skills Academy for kit along with Gill
Optimum Time for great racing watches
Aquapac for kit bags
Dubarry for shore shoes
Adidas for on the water footwear
Bottles and Bags, for water bottles
Morrison Foerster for funding the trip

The team are set for training on Monday, follow at gbrblindsailing.co.uk

Blind Match Racing Worlds in Scotland overall
Won by GBR's Sharon Grennan, Liam Cattermole and Lucy Hodges The Blind Match Racing Worlds – hosted for the first time in the UK by the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club – was won by Great Britain's Sharon Grennan, a completely blind sailor, and her visually-impaired crew: Liam Cattermole and Lucy Hodges MBE. Posted on 8 Sep 2018

Blind Match Racing Worlds in Scotland day 4
Semi-finals day sets up an all-British Final tomorrow Day 4 and semi-finals day at the Blind Match Racing Championship and the story of the day was the epic battle brewing between GBR2 and Canada. In the second race of the day, David Brown's Canadian team drew first blood against Sally Rodrigues and GBR2. Posted on 6 Sep 2018

Blind Match Racing Worlds in Scotland day 3
Postponement allows time to test accessible app SARA Day 3 started the same way as day 2 with all sailors held ashore waiting for breeze. This time gave all teams a chance to be the sailors from France, both sighted and visually impaired, and to hear and test their accessible app SARA. Posted on 5 Sep 2018

Blind Match Racing Worlds in Scotland day 2
Great Britain 1 keep up their 100% winning record All teams arrived at the beautiful Rhu Marina, hoping for a start time of 10.00, but the sun was shining and the water was a perfect mirror. So the AP was displayed by the Race Committee and the waiting game started. Posted on 5 Sep 2018

Blind Match Racing Worlds in Scotland day 1
Strong start for Sharon Grennan's team All teams woke to strong breeze but the weather forecasts were saying the wind would drop to 1-2 knots around 13.00. The teams arrived early at Rhu Marina after a great opening ceremony welcome by the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club. Posted on 4 Sep 2018

Great Britain arrive in the USA for the 2017 Blind Fleet Racing World Championship

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