March Training – Back on the Water and Breaking Barriers

And just like that—we're back! March marked the long-awaited return to the water for Blind Sailing UK, and a short break for the Dinghy Show.. With a fresh initiative launched in | January Friday Afternoon Shake-Down Sails—running for the first three training weekends of 2025—this was more than just a warm-up. It was a chance to reconnect, reset, and reignite our passion for sailing, for two of our sailors that have been away.

Welcoming New Faces and Familiar Friends

We were delighted to welcome new sailor Tina and her husband to their first Blind Sailing weekend, having met them earlier at our "See Sailing Your Way" training session. For many people, losing sight can feel like doors are closing—but keep reading to the end to hear just how powerful one weekend can be.

Meanwhile, Friday’s session was all about speed and settling back in. Lucy and Karl worked on accelerating through maneuvers, while Kate and Neil focused on easing back in after time off or recovery from injury. By the end of the session, it was clear—it had all come flooding back.

A solid three hours on the water saw great progress all around. That evening, we regrouped for dinner and shared stories, hopeful the breeze forecast for Saturday would stay manageable. Fingers crossed, as always.

Saturday – Finding Speed and Holding the Line

Saturday morning brought a perfect mix of wind and determination. Our focus: control in tacks and gybes, and building explosive speed from a standing start, pulling that trigger. We threw in a bit of friendly competition—who could go fastest after holding still for 45 seconds? Speeds were impressive, and the lunchtime chatter even more so.

In the afternoon, it was time to put strategy into practice. Each of the four boats took a different starting position—rounding the committee boat, starboard layline, middle of the line, and the port end. This gave sailors the chance to learn the pros and cons of each start.

As the wind built, it was incredible to see all four boats executing the plan with skill and energy. A special shoutout to Karl and Lucy for pulling off a textbook port flyer—a gutsy move, beautifully executed.

By late afternoon, the wind had picked up significantly and we decided to call it a day. After all, it was already 4 PM—and let’s be honest, dinner was calling!

Sunday – When the Wind Says “No,” We Still Learn

Sunday arrived with wind speeds well above our safety threshold. After reviewing conditions with the club and assessing the risk, we made the call to cancel on-water training. But that didn’t mean the learning stopped.

Instead, we headed indoors for a deep dive into start line strategy—analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each starting position we’d practiced on Saturday. What followed was a fantastic three-hour session, filled with discussion, questions, and lightbulb moments. The enthusiasm for learning was contagious, and we’ll be building on this in our April training weekend, where we’ll also be welcoming coach Becky to the team.

A New Beginning for Tina

We couldn’t finish this blog without sharing a truly special moment from the weekend. New sailor Tina shared her reflections after her first experience with Blind Sailing:

“As someone who enjoys dinghy sailing at club level, I was becoming more and more frustrated with my sight deteriorating and its impact on my life—especially my ability to sail independently. If I had not attended this weekend and found Blind Sailing, I think I would have stopped doing what I love. But now I know I can continue, even as my sight worsens, with amazing people supporting me.”

Moments like this remind us why we do what we do as a charity.

Onwards to April

With skills sharpened and spirits high, we’re already looking forward to April’s training. More wind, more learning, and more incredible stories to come.