Blind Sailing Australia
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Blind Sailing Australia |
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blindsailingaustralia.org
Latest News 2008 Australian Blind Sailing Championships The Homerus Open Blind Match-Racing Championships October2-5 in Sulzano, Northern Italy 2008IFDS 2009 Blind Sailing World Championships Rotorua New Zealand 13 - 21 March 2009 2007 Match Racing Regattafor Blind & Vision Impaired Sailors A Great Success Paul Borg & Morgan Staley hold a commanding lead at the Sail Melbourne International Regatta
For details visit accessclass.org This Website is sponsored by Australian Blind Sports Federation
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Blind & Vision Impaired Sailing in Australia2008 Australian Blind Sailing Championships
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SailabilityCurrently there are a number of individuals and groups participating in Sailability programs around the country. More >>> |
Access SailingIt was encouraging that a number of blind and vision impaired sailors took part in the 2006 Australian Access Class Championships |
Homerus International Blind Match RacingHomerus events are generally sailed in two matched keelboats by a two person crew (B1, B2 and sometimes B3) with a sighted observer on board. |
Blind Sailing International FormatThe BSI format, usually two blind crew and two or three sighted crew, enables racing to be conducted with a minimum of changes to the regular fleet. |
I am sure that people would like to know what’s happening around the country. If you know of participation, development or racing activities that provide opportunities for blind and vision impaired sailors, let us know so we can include details on the website.
Contact Us (admin@blindsailingaustralia.org)
What is happening in other parts of the world?
There are widely varying opportunities and initiatives throughout the world.
Italy seems to be leading the way with Autonomous Blind Sailing thanks to the Homerus project of Alessandro Gaoso. This involves training for racing along with offshore sailing and navigation. Thanks to this project, the Italians have always provided tough match racing competition.
Blind Sailing International is active in New Zealand and the USA , with an IFDS World Championship being conducted this September by the New York Yacht Club. The IFDS will only bestow World Championship status on one blind sailing event every one or two years.
Canada has an active blind sailing keelboat racing program and the Royal Yachting Association (UK) has for many years run “Blind Week” where 30-50 keelboats cruise the English coastline with blind sailors aboard for up to a week.
There is no separate Paralympic blind sailing discipline, however the blind or vision impaired can be classified under the IFDS Functional Classification System (FCS) and therefore be eligible to compete as part of a mixed disability crew in the three person Sonar or the SKUD 18, the new two person class for Beijing developed by Chris Mitchell of Access Dinghies in collaboration with Julian Bethwaite.
Competitors at the 2008 Australian Blind Sailing Championships
Kylie Forth from Western Australia took on the International Champion in her first match race as a skipper
1st Place at the Australian Match Racing Championships, Borg and Jewell
Borg and Jewell from Victoria win the Australian Match Racing Championships
Australian Blind Sailing Regatta Team at Port Stevens
Borg vs Parente, Got him on Starboard
The victorious Australian Team at the 2006 Homerus Blind Match Racing Championships presentations. L-R - Sonya Staley (escort), David Staley (coach/manager) Paul Borg (helm), Kylie Forth (sheet hand), Margaret Forth (escort).
Winners are grinners – Paul Borg & Kylie Forth after being presented with their 2006 Homerus International Championship trophies.
Paul Borg & Kylie Forth training for the 2006 Homerus Blind Match Racing Championships.
Paul Borg won the 2006 Australian Access Class 303 Championship against a fleet of sighted competitors.
