October on the Water at Rutland

Our final Blind Sailing weekend of the year has been and gone—one last training session before we head into the final two events of the season. With five teams, four boats, a well-set course, and coach Becky on hand with guidance, we focused on what mattered most: teamwork, communication, movement around the boat, and using the racecourse only as a tool to bring it all together.

The wind built steadily over the weekend, and so did the teamwork. It was brilliant to see new volunteers growing in confidence and communication alongside our long-standing helpers. Their collaboration on and off the water made the whole weekend feel connected and purposeful.

It was also lovely to offer a final taster session to Charles, who hadn’t sailed for many years. His knowledge was still very much there as he chatted away on the boat, and it was wonderful to hear his feedback afterwards—he said how grateful he was for the warm welcome and what a great experience he’d had on the water with such supportive volunteers.

After a long, hard day on Saturday, we wrapped up with a surprise 18th-birthday celebration for Logan—complete with a team meal and music. A real highlight was having Hannah Stodel from World Sailing join us to present Logan with his RYA Award, recognising his inspiring work with youth sailors.

Sunday brought another full session on the water. Teams shared tips and techniques with one another—everything from numbering who moves during manoeuvres as the wind shifts, to thinking through starts, stops, and staying on the right side of the course. It was a great exchange of ideas and experiences that will carry us strongly into the next events.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend, full of learning, teamwork, and celebration. Now it’s time to look ahead to the International Inclusion Keelboat League—and then onward to the Inclusivity Worlds in Oman.

Thank You all for a great final weekend of training in 2025