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Irish Blind Sports |
Sailing
Sailing is a water based activity for the outdoor enthusiast. It is an activity that can easily be mastered by the visually impaired or blind person who wishes to learn to be a sailor.
It is a sport that can suit either male or females, young or old, those who prefer to sail alone, with another person or with a bigger crew. Depending on your wishes it is possible to sail on very small craft or on big yachts, on quiet lakes / harbours or on the ocean. One can be a fair weather sailor or brave the winter storms. Generally people learn to sail in the small single dinghy and then move up as they gain experience but it also possible to learn to sail as a crew member on board a bigger boat.
Minimal equipment is required for the enthusiast to get started. There are many clubs around the country where you can learn to sail without needing to buy your own boat. All sailors must wear a buoyancy aid while on the water and a good weatherproof jacket and deck shoes will have you set to go.
As you get more and more into the sport it is possible to invest more heavily in better quality clothing and equipment as the need arises.
Minor adaptations to boats and the technical equipment (speaking compasses etc) aboard the boat will make it accessible for the blind and visually impaired. Some clubs around the country are particularly disability friendly and have accessible boats for use by club members. Most clubs provide sailing instruction at various times through the year.
Sailing is mostly done for pleasure but increasingly there are opportunities for competitive sailing for the blind and visually impaired. Blind Sailing International (BSI) was formed in 1994. The World Blind Sailing Championship is the top regatta. Each country is allowed to enter a crew in each of the three IBSA classes. The competitive sailing is governed by the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) (www.sailing.org/disabled), which closely co-operates with the International Sailing Federation. IFDS prompted Blind Sailing to bid for a place in the 2016 Paralympic Games, where sailing for disabled athletes, including the visually impaired, commenced in 2000.
Contact
Sandra Garvey Dyson
086 3632408
wildgoose@iol.ie
Irish Blind Sports
1 Christchurch Hall,
High Street,
Dublin 8.
Tel: 085 8500193
Mon 13 February 12
6 Week Archery Course Now Booking
6 WEEK COURSE Monday 7.50pm
€60 for adults (25% discount for IBS Members* )
€40 for Juniors (25% discount for IBS
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Irish Blind Sports, 1 Christchurch Hall, High Street, Dublin 8 | info@ibsports.ie |
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