Blind sailors ready for yacht race

Three visually impaired sailors are to race a small yacht from London to the Olympic sailing site of Portland, in Dorset. The trio are crewing the James Cook on behalf of Action For Blind People (Action) in the Small Yacht Race 2012, set up by the Ocean Youth Trust which aims to get more people out on the water. Stephen Ball, 23, from Southport; Brett Johnson, 22, from Oldham; and Danny Grant, 25, from Wakefield; are working with five other crewmates, many of whom are also blind or partially sighted on the challenge. Stephen has virtually no sight, being only able to see the outline of objects. Action is helping him to find assistive technology to allow him to live more independently. He said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm really excited about the challenge, learning new skills and teaming up with the crew, hopefully sailing to a famous victory." John Turnbull, from Action, said: "We've got a team of eight enthusiastic young people, ready for a challenge and determined to win. At Action, we aim to help young people with sight loss develop socially, learn news skills and increase their confidence. Team building, fun and a competitive environment are perfect ingredients to make this happen and in an Olympic year, the event allows them to prove that sight loss isn't a barrier to living your dreams." The five-day race, celebrating the jubilee and Olympics, involves three stages; team initiation, preparation of the yacht, and the race itself. Away from the yachting challenge, Action is working with teammates Brett and Danny to help them gain greater independence. Brett is partially sighted, suffering from a condition called nystagmus, which makes reading and walking a great challenge. Danny has had practically no sight since birth and is only able to recognise bright light, but no specific shapes or outlines. The race starts on June 11. To support the charity visit www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/donate.