Sailing without sight
David Thompson shares the joy and instructional challenges of being a sighted volunteer for blind and partially-sighted sailors
Iam sometimes asked whether sailing with a blind or visuallyimpaired crew is dangerous or difficult. The answer is a loud ‘no’ (unless you count eating one of Lofty’s heart-attack generating breakfasts). The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain (VISA-GB) is a registered charity that offers the chance for visuallyimpaired people to participate in offshore and coastal sailing.
For the past four years I have had the privilege of being a sighted volunteer and enjoyed many happy days sailing with VISAGB. I learn a lot on each trip, and it certainly challenges my instructing capabilities.
Last October VISA-GB undertook its first foreign trip in Mallorca. We arrived in Palma on different flights from across the UK. I flew out with our skipper Tim and we met up with another crewmember in Mallorca airport before getting a taxi to Port de Pollença.
Others had arrived before us and were enjoying a glass of wine in the late afternoon sunshine. First job was to allocate a berth to everyone on the Sun Odyssey 43DS we were chartering, and to give a guided tour of the deck and cabin. A party went to the local supermarket for provisions. Later we enjoyed a meal in the marina restaurant.
Our plan the next morning was to do some sailing practice, getting everyone used to helming, tacking and gybing and to then anchor for the night. This we did, the crew quickly learning to steer by the feel of the wind on their faces. Going upwind is easier as the apparent wind is higher and there is a greater difference in perception of wind strength between one cheek and the other; downwind usually requires more verbal guidance, but the seven visually-impaired crewmembers enjoyed trying to reach the greatest speed during their turn at the wheel.
Unfortunately, after a great day dropping the anchor, the windlass failed to operate. Tim solved the issue by bridging the switch
contacts in the forecabin, while one of the crew relayed instructions from the helm.
Tim was understandably not keen to sail off without a functioning anchor windlass, so we returned to the charter berth to get it repaired. Our eventual departure was not the most polished as we lost a fender. We slunk off to the fuel berth opposite and Dan rowed me across the marina in a dinghy to retrieve it. Apparently our attempts to row against a stiff wind were highly amusing.
The plan on Monday was to sail to Port d’alcúdia but our delayed departure meant that we arrived late to find no space available. With no safe anchorage possible, we decided to motor-sail eight miles to the small port of Colònia de Sant Pere.
A phone call had determined that though this small marina was full, we could have space on the fuel berth and two hours later we were grateful to tie up alongside and head for the facilities.
The issue of ‘cane-gate’ occurred on every trip ashore. All seven of our visually-impaired crew used canes and these were not marked; each is personal to the individual, with different lengths and tips. On board the canes became mixed up. Any trip ashore seemed to involve 15 minutes of complaining, ‘This is not mine,’ and exchanging canes before we could leave. Tim and I were of no help because to us the canes looked identical. Tuesday brought a strong easterly of Force 6. Sailing was cancelled, but we enjoyed going to a cafe and then for a walk. Though a small town, Colònia de Sant Pere has a lot to recommend it. An evening meal in one of the few restaurants open at the end of the season was excellent.
The wind had dropped by Wednesday morning so we sailed back north to find a suitable overnight anchorage in Bahía de Pollensa. The one we had identified from the chart proved to be a private cala so we had a quick reach across to the same anchorage that we had used previously.
The next day we were determined to get around the Cap de Formentor, which is the north-east point of the island. First, however, was a lunchtime stop and a swim in Cala en Feliu. At the end of the afternoon we hoisted sail to continue our passage: safely rounding Cap de Formentor, and then enjoying a quiet downwind passage to our anchorage for the night, a cala just west of the promontory.
Our last evening was spent in the cockpit, watching the stars. Friday gave us some excellent sailing back towards Pollença, with everyone taking a final turn at the helm.
We arrived in time to clean the boat and pack, ready for early departures the next morning. VISA-GB was running two back-to-back charters so we met up with the incoming crew. Another trip to a restaurant ensued, this time with 13 visually-impaired and four sighted people – hats off to the waiting staff, who showed patience and good humour with this rowdy party.