Tag Archives: Blind Sailing Week

Podcast on Blind Sailing Week!

Blind Sailing Week-RNIB Connect Radio
Article, Audio, News, , , , ,

Blind Sailing Week

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell, who himself has attended the sailing week in the past, spoke to organiser Grant Morris to get more information.

Even if you’ve never sailed before, or an old salt looking to get back on the water, Blind Sailing Week is back, and they have places available.

The summer event sees blind and partially sighted people sailing with sighted crew on a flotilla of yachts, around the south coast of England and the fun packed week is now taking bookings.

You can listen to the RNIB Sailing Week For VI People  Audio Podcast below

Link to blind Sailing week event: http://bit.ly/BSW7-13July2019

 

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Visually Impaired Sailors’ Week – Blind Week – Apply by Friday 17th March at the latest.

Blind Sailing
Events, , , , ,
Venue:
Royal Southampton
Time:
Email to confirm - TBC
Phone:
N/A
Date:
17th March 2017
Cost:
£240 – the same as last year.
Contact:
mail@willbridge.com


  • 24 June -1 July Blind Week –  Royal Southampton Yacht Club

Our 2017 sailing week will be Solent-based and hosted once again by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.  Following the well-established pattern, participants will gather on Saturday 24th June in the afternoon, and we start the week’s events with an opening dinner at the Clubhouse that evening.  Having sailed a variety of routes, the yachts and their crews will converge back at the Club for the closing dinner on Friday evening, and then crews will disembark and the event will end on Saturday morning 1st July.

I am delighted to say that Mike Browne has once again agreed to facilitate this event through his charity, Sporting Activities for the Disabled Charitable Trust.

If you are visually impaired and would like to apply for a place to crew on a yacht for the week,  please fill in your responses to the word document form below by Friday 17th March at the latest. and email to Dr Will Bridge,  Co-ordinator of Blind Week,  Email mail@willbridge.com

Word Document Form: LINK

Please do so even if you’ve already mentioned your wish to participate in BW 2017 to me, or to anyone else involved in the event.

I am very aware of the need to keep costs under tight control, so it’s great that we are able to hold the fee for Blind Week at £240 – the same as last year.

I should emphasise that you really do not need any prior sailing experience to participate in and really enjoy Blind Week.  Complete beginners and newcomers are just as warmly welcome as experienced VI sailors whose skills have been developed over many sea miles!  If you know of any visually impaired person who may not be aware of Blind Week, but might like to come along, or any friend who doesn’t appear to have received this letter, please do ask them to contact me – or you might simply copy this email onto them.  We can only cater for VI sailors over 18, and the normal sailing yachts we use do require reasonable agility by all the crew, as set out in the ‘What’s it all About document.

At this stage it is impossible to confirm places until we know the availability of boats, so do bear with me until I’m able to confirm your place and your provisional yacht allocation – which will be in April.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.  If you would like to take part in the event please respond directly to this email by completing the questions set out below and sending the whole email back to me.

Dr Will Bridge,  Co-ordinator of Blind Week,  Email mail@willbridge.com

Sporting Activities for the Disabled Charitable Trust:  Charity no. 1044893

31 Pacific Close, Southampton SO14 3TX

 

If you haven’t participated in VISailors’ Week/Blind Week before, please read  below.

1 What is Blind Week?

Over 20 yachts take part in the week and they are divided into smaller groups
or ‘fleets’ to sail to different destinations each day. The week starts on a
Saturday where you are greeted by your skipper and fellow crew followed by
dinner at the host yacht club. Sailing starts on the Sunday and continues until
Friday. The week ends with another dinner back at the yacht club on the
Friday evening before travelling home on Saturday morning. Sailing is
dependant on the weather and the coastline you are sailing. Depending on
the plan for your fleet and weather conditions, sailing days can be long or
short. Your skipper will talk through the plan for each day, and your first day
will be a careful introduction to sailing and the feel of the boat and will often
involve only a short sail.

2 Who will I be sailing with?

Blind Week is run by volunteers. Yachts are donated or chartered for the
week and the skippers and sighted crew are volunteers who donate their time
to sail with us. The money that you pay is not to cover the cost of hiring a
boat or the time of the skipper – both are freely given for the event. Rather it
is a contribution to the cost of your yacht’s food and mooring fees for the
duration of the week.
Sighted volunteers are from all different sailing backgrounds from local club
sailors to those that race and those that cruise around the world. Many of the
skippers and other crew have volunteered for over 20 years so have a great
deal of sailing experience and of sailing with visually impaired people. On
each boat there is a skipper, who is in charge of the boat and the safety of the
crew on board. The number of sighted crew on board is at least the same as
the number of VI crew. Before the event your skipper will be in direct contact
to provide any information that you may need, and find out about any special
needs or concerns you may have.

3 What is the accommodation like onboard?

No two yachts have identical layouts. The yachts on the week range in length
from around 30ft to 50ft and vary in design from motor sailors to racing
yachts.
Being a yacht, your accommodation will be compact to say the least. You may
be asked to share a cabin with someone of the same gender and the
accommodation may be either in bunk beds or next to someone in a cabin
designed for two people. Whether you feel this is “nice and cosy” or “cooped
up in a wardrobe”, it is not an environment for anyone with serious
claustrophobia! There will not be much space to spread your belongings
around so you will have to live out of your bag for the week. So a fold away or
soft bag is key to stowing your kit. All yachts have a toilet and sink in a small
compartment for use during the night and day.
On most nights you will be tied up on a pontoon, so you will be able to go
ashore, socialise with crew from other yachts in your fleet and to use toilet
and shower facilities there. However, for nights at anchor, you will be able to
use the toilet and have a wash (but not shower) aboard.

4 Do I need to be very fit and active to come on a yacht sailing holiday?

You don’t need to be extra fit and active to come on Blind Week and you can
do as much as you feel comfortable with. However, you do need to be able to
get up and down a short, steep set of steps from the deck to the accommodation inside the yacht, to be able to manage in a fairly confined living space and to be able to step over the guard rails on the side of the yacht.

A reasonable yardstick would be if you feel you could climb over a stile or a 5-bar gate OK. In some locations it may not be possible to tie up to a pontoon and you may need to climb into and out of an inflatable dinghy to go ashore.

5  What is sailing on a yacht like?

All of the yachts are different and hence they sail and feel different but all are
safe. You can do as much or as little on the boat as you want. This will
always be under the supervision and subject to the consent of the skipper with
safety considerations in mind, If you want to learn more about sailing or
particular skills during the week, you are encouraged to discuss this with your
skipper, who will try to facilitate this. As part of the yacht’s crew, you can help
with the sail trim, hoisting and winching, helming/steering and any other
aspect of handling the yacht – your skipper and sighted crew will support you
where needed.
The weather conditions and sailing area can be different each day, and they
can change quickly. All boats will heel (lean) to a certain point whilst sailing.
This can feel strange at first but it is perfectly normal and should not be a
cause for concern. By the end of the week you will have tried something new,
been challenged in a supportive way and experienced the camaraderie of
sailing with the rest of your crew and with people on other yachts.

6 What should I bring with me?

Your luggage should be packed in a soft bag rather than a suitcase or trunk to
make it easy to stow on board. Note that it is usually cooler sailing out on the
water than on land so it is a good idea to bring plenty of layers of clothing and
to be prepared for all weather and a range of temperatures – we’re sailing in
England rather than the Mediterranean after all!
Here are some suggestions of items that you should think about bringing in
addition to the items that you would pack for any other trip:

  • sleeping bag and small pillow or soft clothing that you can use as a
    pillow
  • waterproof jacket and trousers (let your skipper and the organiser know
    in advance if you don’t have waterproofs as you may be able to borrow
    a set)
  • boots or non-slip footwear (many people prefer to wear footwear that
    protects your toes to avoid stubbing them or hurting your feet; footwear
    with a good grip helps to avoid slipping on a wet deck surface)
  • layers of clothing to keep you warm (synthetic fleeces etc are best for
    keeping dry and warm)
  • swimwear (in case of an opportunity to go swimming!)
  • a small or quick-dry towel
  • sun cream, sun glasses and a hat (as you are more likely to get burnt
    when sailing)
  • RYA log book (if you want to start recording your sailing miles)
  • 1 set of smart casual clothes for the dinner at the end of the week
  • Some spending money – the amount you pay for the week covers all your meals taken on board and you will not be expected to pay any more for this – however any drinks or other additional items will be subject to a boat kitty or as agreed with the skipper. One pound coins are particularly useful for showers and trolleys ashore

 

The Blind Sailing  Charity

Blind Sailing is a Registered Charity, our aim is to help blind and partially sighted people sail at all levels.

  • Organise regular training sessions and racing events.
  • Provide coaching and help to enable novices learn to sail.
  • Coach the more advanced to enable them to compete at both national and international events.

We are supported by a number of excellent sailing schools & related organisations who provide their expertise, boats, venues and safety cover visit Blind Sailing Links page

Blind Sailing website: http://www.blindsailing.net/

Contact: sailing@blindsailing.net or call 07796 687914

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Vision Impaired Sailors’ Week on the South Coast – Blind Week – 24 June – 1 July 2017

Blind Sailing
Events, News, , , , ,
Venue:
Royal Southampton
Time:
Email to confirm - TBC
Phone:
N/A
Date:
24th June 2017
Cost:
£240 – the same as last year.
Contact:
mail@willbridge.com


  • 24-1 July Blind Week –  Royal Southampton Yacht Club

Our 2017 sailing week will be Solent-based and hosted once again by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.  Following the well-established pattern, participants will gather on Saturday 24th June in the afternoon, and we start the week’s events with an opening dinner at the Clubhouse that evening.  Having sailed a variety of routes, the yachts and their crews will converge back at the Club for the closing dinner on Friday evening, and then crews will disembark and the event will end on Saturday morning 1st July.

I am delighted to say that Mike Browne has once again agreed to facilitate this event through his charity, Sporting Activities for the Disabled Charitable Trust.

If you are visually impaired and would like to apply for a place to crew on a yacht for the week,  please fill in your responses to the word document form below and email to Dr Will Bridge,  Co-ordinator of Blind Week,  Email mail@wilbridge.com

Word Document Form: LINK

Please do so even if you’ve already mentioned your wish to participate in BW 2017 to me, or to anyone else involved in the event.

I am very aware of the need to keep costs under tight control, so it’s great that we are able to hold the fee for Blind Week at £240 – the same as last year.

I should emphasise that you really do not need any prior sailing experience to participate in and really enjoy Blind Week.  Complete beginners and newcomers are just as warmly welcome as experienced VI sailors whose skills have been developed over many sea miles!  If you know of any visually impaired person who may not be aware of Blind Week, but might like to come along, or any friend who doesn’t appear to have received this letter, please do ask them to contact me – or you might simply copy this email onto them.  We can only cater for VI sailors over 18, and the normal sailing yachts we use do require reasonable agility by all the crew, as set out in the ‘What’s it all About document.

At this stage it is impossible to confirm places until we know the availability of boats, so do bear with me until I’m able to confirm your place and your provisional yacht allocation – which will be in April.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.  If you would like to take part in the event please respond directly to this email by completing the questions set out below and sending the whole email back to me.

Dr Will Bridge,  Co-ordinator of Blind Week,  Email mail@willbridge.com

Sporting Activities for the Disabled Charitable Trust:  Charity no. 1044893

31 Pacific Close, Southampton SO14 3TX

If you haven’t participated in VISailors’ Week/Blind Week before, please read  below.

1 What is Blind Week?

Over 20 yachts take part in the week and they are divided into smaller groups
or ‘fleets’ to sail to different destinations each day. The week starts on a
Saturday where you are greeted by your skipper and fellow crew followed by
dinner at the host yacht club. Sailing starts on the Sunday and continues until
Friday. The week ends with another dinner back at the yacht club on the
Friday evening before travelling home on Saturday morning. Sailing is
dependant on the weather and the coastline you are sailing. Depending on
the plan for your fleet and weather conditions, sailing days can be long or
short. Your skipper will talk through the plan for each day, and your first day
will be a careful introduction to sailing and the feel of the boat and will often
involve only a short sail.

2 Who will I be sailing with?

Blind Week is run by volunteers. Yachts are donated or chartered for the
week and the skippers and sighted crew are volunteers who donate their time
to sail with us. The money that you pay is not to cover the cost of hiring a
boat or the time of the skipper – both are freely given for the event. Rather it
is a contribution to the cost of your yacht’s food and mooring fees for the
duration of the week.
Sighted volunteers are from all different sailing backgrounds from local club
sailors to those that race and those that cruise around the world. Many of the
skippers and other crew have volunteered for over 20 years so have a great
deal of sailing experience and of sailing with visually impaired people. On
each boat there is a skipper, who is in charge of the boat and the safety of the
crew on board. The number of sighted crew on board is at least the same as
the number of VI crew. Before the event your skipper will be in direct contact
to provide any information that you may need, and find out about any special
needs or concerns you may have.

3 What is the accommodation like onboard?

No two yachts have identical layouts. The yachts on the week range in length
from around 30ft to 50ft and vary in design from motor sailors to racing
yachts.
Being a yacht, your accommodation will be compact to say the least. You may
be asked to share a cabin with someone of the same gender and the
accommodation may be either in bunk beds or next to someone in a cabin
designed for two people. Whether you feel this is “nice and cosy” or “cooped
up in a wardrobe”, it is not an environment for anyone with serious
claustrophobia! There will not be much space to spread your belongings
around so you will have to live out of your bag for the week. So a fold away or
soft bag is key to stowing your kit. All yachts have a toilet and sink in a small
compartment for use during the night and day.
On most nights you will be tied up on a pontoon, so you will be able to go
ashore, socialise with crew from other yachts in your fleet and to use toilet
and shower facilities there. However, for nights at anchor, you will be able to
use the toilet and have a wash (but not shower) aboard.

4 Do I need to be very fit and active to come on a yacht sailing holiday?

You don’t need to be extra fit and active to come on Blind Week and you can
do as much as you feel comfortable with. However, you do need to be able to
get up and down a short, steep set of steps from the deck to the accommodation inside the yacht, to be able to manage in a fairly confined living space and to be able to step over the guard rails on the side of the yacht.

A reasonable yardstick would be if you feel you could climb over a stile or a 5-bar gate OK. In some locations it may not be possible to tie up to a pontoon and you may need to climb into and out of an inflatable dinghy to go ashore.

5  What is sailing on a yacht like?

All of the yachts are different and hence they sail and feel different but all are
safe. You can do as much or as little on the boat as you want. This will
always be under the supervision and subject to the consent of the skipper with
safety considerations in mind, If you want to learn more about sailing or
particular skills during the week, you are encouraged to discuss this with your
skipper, who will try to facilitate this. As part of the yacht’s crew, you can help
with the sail trim, hoisting and winching, helming/steering and any other
aspect of handling the yacht – your skipper and sighted crew will support you
where needed.
The weather conditions and sailing area can be different each day, and they
can change quickly. All boats will heel (lean) to a certain point whilst sailing.
This can feel strange at first but it is perfectly normal and should not be a
cause for concern. By the end of the week you will have tried something new,
been challenged in a supportive way and experienced the camaraderie of
sailing with the rest of your crew and with people on other yachts.

6 What should I bring with me?

Your luggage should be packed in a soft bag rather than a suitcase or trunk to
make it easy to stow on board. Note that it is usually cooler sailing out on the
water than on land so it is a good idea to bring plenty of layers of clothing and
to be prepared for all weather and a range of temperatures – we’re sailing in
England rather than the Mediterranean after all!
Here are some suggestions of items that you should think about bringing in
addition to the items that you would pack for any other trip:

  • sleeping bag and small pillow or soft clothing that you can use as a
    pillow
  • waterproof jacket and trousers (let your skipper and the organiser know
    in advance if you don’t have waterproofs as you may be able to borrow
    a set)
  • boots or non-slip footwear (many people prefer to wear footwear that
    protects your toes to avoid stubbing them or hurting your feet; footwear
    with a good grip helps to avoid slipping on a wet deck surface)
  • layers of clothing to keep you warm (synthetic fleeces etc are best for
    keeping dry and warm)
  • swimwear (in case of an opportunity to go swimming!)
  • a small or quick-dry towel
  • sun cream, sun glasses and a hat (as you are more likely to get burnt
    when sailing)
  • RYA log book (if you want to start recording your sailing miles)
  • 1 set of smart casual clothes for the dinner at the end of the week
  • Some spending money – the amount you pay for the week covers all your meals taken on board and you will not be expected to pay any more for this – however any drinks or other additional items will be subject to a boat kitty or as agreed with the skipper. One pound coins are particularly useful for showers and trolleys ashore

 

The Blind Sailing  Charity

Blind Sailing is a Registered Charity, our aim is to help blind and partially sighted people sail at all levels.

  • Organise regular training sessions and racing events.
  • Provide coaching and help to enable novices learn to sail.
  • Coach the more advanced to enable them to compete at both national and international events.

We are supported by a number of excellent sailing schools & related organisations who provide their expertise, boats, venues and safety cover visit Blind Sailing Links page

Blind Sailing website: http://www.blindsailing.net/

Contact: sailing@blindsailing.net or call 07796 687914

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Blind Sailing Week 2015 by Stephen Pat

Article, News, , ,

Above: Photo looking back the stern with the helms woman steering the yacht at an angle on the sea

A week of Sailing for the visually impaired, where VI are treated as very important people, not visually impaired passengers.The whole experience was so well organised and planned, I felt informed at every stage, from the initial communication which was clear and thorough. I did have some problems with the email application and medical forms, however this was just a program compatibility issue, which I have addressed with the organisers.

All the essential itinerary information was supplied and comprehensive such as arrival times, where to go on arrival and who to speak to. I felt at ease with all the administration stages and the Blind sailing week organisers are very thorough, ensuring all your dietary and medical needs are met or to the best of their ability. This was all done sensitively and in an empathetic manner and I felt if I had a specific need, I could talk to the organiser in confidence.

Saturday
Following the itinerary sent in an email. I travelled by train to Southampton Central and I took a taxi to Ocean Village, alternative forms of transport are available but a cab was the quickest and convenient. On arrival at Ocean Village. I presented myself to the volunteer organisers who contacted my crew for the week, I met Grant Morris our skipper and his first mate Dave Morgan. Grant had contacted me prior to the sailing week to introduce himself and forward useful information such as essential kit. And the plan for the week. We didn’t set sail on the Saturday as the focus was on settling everyone in, which was nice and easy start to the week,

Grant and Dave took me and my fellow VI crew member to our Yacht which is a Sweden 39Ft named Outreach. We were informed she was an excellent sailing boat and she looked and felt the part. Grant and Dave re-affirmed to us that we could do as much or as little as we wanted. However I was not going to waste an opportunity like this to pass me by. We settled in and went through the do and don’t s over tea and coffee. After our refreshments we got to explore and get familiar with the boat, all done in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.

That evening we had a welcoming Dinner at the Yacht club, which was a good opportunity to meet other crews and VI, I meet a lot of people that night, I found out that many crews and VI have been participating in Blind sailing week for many years and there was also a lot of new crew and VI. All the people I met were positive, encouraging, enthusiastic, kind and generous, the meal was excellent and atmosphere even better. It was a lovely easy start to the week. We got back to the Boat and settled in for the night.

Sunday
We had a leisurely start and went through some essential safety information. At this point I could talk extensively about the sailing however I don’t want to bombard the reader with Nautical terms and I could never truly articulate the sailing experience, as being there with the wind in your face, smell of the sea and excitement of sailing is something you need to experience for yourself.

We set sail to Chichester Harbour, there were 5 other boats in our fleet but every boat took their own way to Chichester. Our boat had a leisurely sail to Chichester and we got to develop our sailing knowledge such as Boat parts, knots, vocabulary and how things worked. During the sail we were offered refreshment at set intervals and lunched at appropriate times which usually meant calm seas. We arrived at Chichester harbour were we moored up along a pontoon, next to the early arrivals from our fleet, other members of our fleet arrived later. We had a lovely gathering on the pontoon with the other members of the fleet, this is also known as a pontoon party. Each boat takes it in turn to host a party, the hosts usual provide drinks and snacks. It is a great way to meet other crews and exchange stories/experiences of the day’s sail. After the party we headed back to our boat were we had dinner on board, after dinner we relaxed and settled in for the night some crews took the opportunity to go ashore but we settled in for the night, resting ourselves for the next day sail.

Monday
We sailed west to Beaulieu, it was good day of sailing and we took turns helming (steering) the boat. At appropriate times we stopped for breaks and lunch, usual anchoring or mooring up at a buoy.
After a good day of sailing we moored up at Gin’s Farm which is part of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.
When all 6 boats moored up we had a pontoon party and we chatted and exchanged stories of the day. All the crews were booked in for a curry dinner at the Yacht club, were we had a good dinner and drinks, after dinner we explored the beautiful Gin’s farm, which has a variety of wildlife including Oyster catchers. Afterwards we headed back to the boat and settled in ready for the next day of sailing.

Tuesday
We had a long sail heading west, out of the Solent towards Poole harbour. As our sailing knowledge and experience developed we were given more opportunity to take control. We used an audio compass to steer the boat. The audio compass is a device which emits 2 different sounds, one is high pitched and the other is low pitched. Left or Port is high and right or starboard Low. There are several versions of this device and we used the one with an earpiece. It is easy use but total concentration is required. We anchored south of Brownsea Island and met up with other crews. There was no pontoon this evening so the boats moored up to each other.

Wednesday
We set sail, back to the Solent and headed towards Lymington for an overnight stop.

Thursday
We sailed around the Solent and moored up in Yarmouth. We went ashore and had a pub meal afterwards we wandered around the town.

Friday
The return sail to Southampton was leisurely and we arrived back early in anticipations of the final night’s dinner. The dinner was a happy yet sad evening. It was a celebration of all the weeks sailing, we had speeches from the organisers, reports from spokespeople from each fleet, who reported on their experiences and commemorative plaques were handed to the skippers of each boat. The food was excellent and everyone mingled about, chatting and laughing,
The only sad part is that another Blind sailing week was over and we would have to wait another year. Friendships were made and lives are changed.

Saturday
This was a slightly sad day, a lot of farewells to new friends and the long journey home. The day was made easier by volunteers who organised lifts to the train station. I really didn’t want to go home.
It would be too easy and cliché to say my experience was life changing, however I can honestly say this has been an extremely positive experience and I would encourage all VI to give Blind sailing week a try. The sailing is the focal point but it is the people that make Blind sailing week a success. If someone asked me if I would attend another sailing week the answer would be a resounding yes. So bring on Cornwall 2016 and I hope to get a place and meet old friends make new ones and hopefully meet Metro Blind sports members there.

Many thanks to the following people and organisations for making Blind Sailing week happen

Metro Blind Sports, Amanda Green, Will Bridge, Grant Morris, Dave Morgan, Royal Southampton Yacht Club,UKSA

And to all the volunteers: Skippers, crew and helpers. VI and everyone else involved with Blind sailing week.

Article by Stephen Pat

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Blind Sailing Week 2015 by Deborah Impiazzi!

Party on the Boat - Blind sailing week 2015
Article, News, , , , ,

Above: Photo of a Party on the Yacht- Blind Sailing Week!

Thank you Blind Metro Sports for giving me the opportunity to try sailing for the very first time. Sailing was a sport I had always wanted to try but never got the chance to do so, and I must admit I was really apprehensive as the date drew nearer.

Once I arrived at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club I was immediately put at ease and I can honestly say that was how it felt for the whole week. There were 7 crew on my boat in all, and three of us were visually impaired. The other two had sailed many times before, so I was the only absolute beginner.

There were 25 boats taking part in this adventure, divided into 4 fleets. There were 7 boats in our fleet and each fleet sailed to a different part of the Solent each day.  Once we had all arrived, met our Skipper and Crew and settled into our boats, we then went to the welcome dinner at the RSYC. It gave us all a chance to meet up and find out the plans for the week.

After breakfast on board, which we did every morning, we set sail. It was good sailing weather, although it did rain once, and was quite chilly out on the water despite the heatwave that week. Luckily for me I did opt to hire the foul weather gear, which is a must I would say! However, the weather was amazing for the duration of the trip. We ate on board for 2 nights. The food was provided by our skipper’s wife and Kate the 1st mate, both meals were delicious, as was every meal we had. We arrived at a different yacht club each evening where good clean showers were available and a good meal provided in the club house. Every night before we went to dinner each boat held a drinks party on the pontoon, this meant that a cocktail of all sorts of alcohol was poured in a bucket with fruit and lemonade!!! Soft drinks were also provided.

There was never a dull moment on board. You could do as much or as little as you desired, there was no pressure. I really enjoyed getting involved and wanted to learn more (and still do). On my second day I took the helm and actually drove the boat, I learned how to tie knots, learned about tacking, jibing and had a great insight into life on the ocean wave. We went to ground one night whilst anchored at Poole harbour, which means the tide went out and the boat settled on the ground. It tilted on a 45 degree angle, which was interesting. I must admit I learned a new and important skill –  to drink a glass of wine at 45 degrees!!!

I had such a great time on this trip. Sailing and learning to sail was amazing. The food and drink were plentiful and good. The weather was fantastic. But most important of all everyone who took part in VI sailing week was unbelievably helpful, kind and considerate. I would certainly recommend that if you get the chance to attend VI Sailing week, then take it!

Article by Deborah Impiazzi

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