Blind Sailing needs your support. We are looking to send four teams, 16 sailors to the 2019 Blind Fleet racing World Championships, this September in Canada, to defend their World title gained in 2017. We are a small charity that helps blind and visually impaired sailors get out on the water each month and at the heart of this are our volunteers who give up their time to provide training and opportunities to race.

Sailing gives a sense of freedom, imagine not being able to jump into your car and just go, independence in life for many is limited and for our sailors jumping into a boat and racing, gives them that sense of freedom. This is all enabled by our volunteers, the communication and trust between sighted and visual impaired sailors is built up over time and has led to many success.

Each team is made up of a crew of four sailors, blind or visually impaired helm and mainsheet crew, a sighted tactician and crew. Your support to get the team out on to the water will fulfil dreams and inspires others.

Below is an estimation of some of our key costs,

flights for the team - £500 x 16

Accommodation for the event - £80 x 10 nights for 8 rooms

Entry Fees 4 x £1,200

Meet the members of the Great Britain Team,

B3

Tactian Jonny Cormack

Sighed Crew Jonny Stevenson

VI Main sheeters Chris Albert

VI Helm Liam Cattermole

B2

Tactian Ben Hazeldine

Sighed Crew Gary Butler

VI Main sheeters Martin Phillips

VI Helm Lucy Hodges

B1

Tactian Martin Moody

Sighed Crew Tim Mills

VI Main sheeters Dennis Manning

VI Helm Vicki Sheen

B1

Tactian Colin Midgley

Sighed Crew Will Morris

VI Main sheeters Mark Austen

VI Helm Sally Rodrigues

Whilst we are raising money for this event the charity is still providing, visual impaired and blind people with their first taste of sailing to providing a pathway to train to represent their country.

Please take a look at our website www.gbrblindsailing.co.uk and read our storys we look to change lives by giving people FREEDOM ON THE WATER leaving their white stick or guide dog ashore and giving them the chance to sail using feel and communication from their team.