Fun had by all at GBR Blind Sailing Youth Weekend

Last weekend saw Blind Sailing host their first open youth weekend for 11-18 year olds with all ranges of visual impairments, on Lake Windermere. The aim of the weekend was to build confidence and team work and start the sailors or for some progress their skills to racing, and to allow families to mix. Saturday saw a cold gusty westerly breeze, tricky conditions if you are sighted, but all did fantastically well. The day was set for getting into dinghies and building their skills, feeling the breeze through various exercise. For one of the sailors Jack it was his first time out on the water, Jack is 15 years old and totally blind, in the tricky conditions Jack took to helming and crewing starting on the road to learning the key skills, a slight dip of his toes in the water did not put him off he was back out on the water learning more very quickly. For some of the more experience learning to feel the breeze and hiking out working together, with their sighted crew, in the tricky gusty conditions listening to the sighted crew calling in the guest then learning to feel the boat in the changing conditions. All came off the water on Saturday with smiles all be it a bit cold but looking forward to Sunday. Behind the sailing, Blind Sailing also try's to help people on land, Saturday evening saw all families join together for a meal to share stories. Sunday saw a similar day of weather. The sailing was stepped up with exercises being based on racing, all did fantastic, smiles all round. The two to one tuition in the boats helps the sailors be shown in the boat what to do and the description of what is happening outside helps them build up their knowledge and picture of what to do. The smiles on the sighted crews and comments of being part of weekends like this says as much as the smiles on the sailors and parents faces. Windermere provided a great place to learn and Blind Sailing must say a big thank you to North Country Leisure, Jonny Cormack, Adam McGovern, Justin Smith, Colin Midgley and Alex Aspinwall, Chris and everyone else that was involved with supporting this weekend. If you would like to support or know more please email blind.sailing@yahoo.co.uk www.blindsailing.net