Please select your home edition
Edition
Feb-Nov23 Leaderboard Revolve2
Product Feature
Harken Cam X-Treme Angle Fairleads - 375
Harken Cam X-Treme Angle Fairleads - 375

Visually Impaired Sailing Week 2022 at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club

by Tanya Baddeley 18 Jul 2022 09:12 BST 2-9 July 2022
Visually Impaired Sailing Week 2022 © Sailing Vision Trust

Royal Lymington Yacht Club (RLymYC) recently hosted a special week of sailing for blind and visually impaired (VI) people. From 2nd to 9th July, forty people with visual impairments were given the opportunity to discover the joy of sailing.

The Club hosted seventeen yachts, each skippered by their volunteer owner and two sighted mates, which gave their two visually impaired crew a taste of the freedom of the sea as well as the skills of sailing with the wind.

Visually Impaired Sailing Week (or Blind Sailing Week as it is fondly known by many who take part) was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Therefore the week was particularly important; helping participants to emerge from the lockdowns and health anxieties which have made the past two years particularly dark for them.

Living aboard their yachts, the VI crew visited ports from Chichester in the east to Poole in the west. They returned to Royal Lymington for an end-of-event dinner sprinkled with salty stories and sea shanties!

Visually impaired Londoner and sailing newcomer Jean quickly learnt safety drills, winching and tying knots by touch, but when first invited to try tacking the boat he said: "Skipper, we'll tack tomorrow!"

Royal Lymington Yacht Club members volunteered for shore-based duties, including distributing sailing gear and meeting VI participants at the station. Club members and local businesses were generous in their support for the event and victualling the yachts. One of the volunteers during the week expressed how important the week had been for them too: "l have learnt so much this week, a truly humbling experience and such a pleasure to meet inspiring people."

On the water, the Club's motorboat section gave visually impaired participants a safe yet thrilling experience of RIB and motor cruiser driving. Having taken the wheel in the open sea, one said; "I've never driven a motorbike or a car...how amazing to be at the wheel of a 100hp powerboat!"

One visually impaired participant said: "This trip has made my year! I never thought I would do this!" Another stated: "I feel empowered and inspired to go forward now."

Vice Commodore of RLymYC, Stephen Crates, said: "Visually Impaired Sailing Week is a highly worthwhile and memorable event for all participants. As a Club we were able to facilitate arrival and departure arrangements for those involved, provide a central venue, and host the welcome and departure dinners. It was a privilege to meet with many of the attendees at the end of their time on the Solent and to see the smiles on participants' faces and hear everyone's seafaring stories at the end of the week. We very much look forward to being involved in the event in future years."

Visually Impaired Sailing Week is an annual event, organised through the Sailing Vision Trust. Dr Will Bridge, Chairman of Sailing Vision Trust, said: "Royal Lymington Yacht Club hosted and supported Visually Impaired Sailors' Week marvellously, with the enthusiastic support of members. The crews of 17 yachts including 40 visually impaired people were able to experience the freedom, empowerment and camaraderie of sailing."

For more information about the Sailing Vision Trust, visit www.sailingvision.org.

For more information about the Royal Lymington Yacht Club visit rlymyc.org.uk. The Club welcomes new members and is available for functions and events on and off the water, contact or call 01590 672677.

Related Articles

Steele Raymond Lymington XOD Week 2025
Blustery but brilliant event concludes in style The Royal Lymington Yacht Club's highly anticipated XOD Week 2025, sponsored by Steele Raymond, wrapped up on Wednesday 25th June after a week of challenging yet exhilarating racing on the Western Solent. Posted on 27 Jun
Folkboat Nationals at Lymington
15 boats on the start line from 6 clubs across the Solent So here I sit Monday afternoon reflecting on a fantastic weekend of racing at the Folkboat Nationals hosted by the Royal Lymington YC and sponsored by North Sails. 15 boats on the start line from 6 clubs across the Solent, many with dreams of the title. Posted on 17 Jun
Title sponsor for Lymington XOD Week 2025
Steele Raymond LLP come on board to support the event The Royal Lymington Yacht Club is thrilled to announce Steele Raymond LLP as the new title sponsor for XOD Week 2025, one of the most anticipated events on the Solent sailing calendar. Posted on 7 Jun
Folkboat Racing in the Solent
Looking at the 2025 calendar and build-up to 60th Folkboat Week Since its introduction to British waters, the Nordic Folkboat has become a staple of Solent sailing. With the Folkboat Association nurturing this tradition, the fleet continues to grow, offering a packed calendar of racing. Posted on 23 May
X 195 'Turtle' Launch
The first new X One Design in 18 years! I attended a rare event in the X One Design class: the launch of a new boat. It has been 18 years since the last new X was launched, and X195 has been a project that long in the making. Posted on 17 May
RS21 UK & Ireland Cup round 2 at Lymington
Tactical racing, sparkling sailing conditions, and vibrant shoreside camaraderie Round two of the RS21 UK & Ireland Cup delivered a thrilling weekend of tactical racing, sparkling sailing conditions, and vibrant shoreside camaraderie. With a strong fleet in attendance, the event showcased the best of one-design keelboat racing. Posted on 16 May
The Allure of Timber
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood. Posted on 29 Apr
Setley Cup 2024
Another great success, despite the near-absent wind The Setley Cup is an annual competition for children sailing model boats (mostly home-made), held on Boxing Day at Setley Pond near Lymington. Posted on 27 Dec 2024
Craftinsure K6 Nationals at Lymington
Three days of racing in the western Solent The western Solent and Royal Lymington YC were the fine venues for this year's K6 Nationals, sponsored by Craftinsure. Nine races were held over three days in what was forecast to be light wind. Posted on 21 Sep 2024
Lymington XOD Saturday Series Week 16
Lone Star takes the win on Jardine Trophy day With several boats missing on their way to compete at Poole week, perhaps a few deciding that the weather was a bit filthy, ten X boats appeared on the start line by mark H. Posted on 24 Aug 2024