GBR Blind Sailing back on the water thanks to Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club
by Lucy Hodges 30 Jan 2018 09:34 NZDT
27-28 January 2018
A great winter base for GBR Blind Sailing at Hollingworth Lake © Blind Sailing
After finishing 2018 as Blind Fleet Racing World Champions, this weekend the sailors started their selection for the World Blind Match Racing Championship. In 2014 and 2016 Great Britain won gold in this event and hope to do defend their title.
This weekend, ten visually impaired sailors embark on their selection process, thanks to Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club kindly opening their doors to the charity providing a great winter base. The sailors took to the water in dinghies having great fun as the breeze was up, verifying their training ashore, sailing setting and basic match racing rules. The charity has developed their training in Match Racing as, unlike the fleet racing, the sighted sailors are taken off at 7 minutes and the sailors use acoustic sound to race each other around the course.
This weekend we welcomed Ryan and his family. Ryan is deaf and visually impaired, but it was great to use the Comfort audio loop system we have been using and see a young sailor smile and sail at a new level working and communicating in a team. It is true to say that water and sailing can take away the struggles of the day and, using our other senses of feeling the breeze and the boat, all can enjoy the water.
Our thanks go to the club in opening their doors to the charity and also their kind yearly donation.
It was also a great chance for Lucy Hodges MBE, Commodore of Blind Sailing, to share the donation made by the members of Superyacht UK for £2,520.
If you want to know more visit www.gbrblindsailng.co.uk