Issue date
While many of the more active sailors have been involved in sailing with their local clubs over summer, adapting to change has been the name of the game with others, as Blind Sailing is no longer centred in Auckland.
Following the lead of the IFDS and the YNZ Committee for sailors with disabilities, BSNZ is supporting the rapid growth of Disabled Sailing around the country. Five sailors competed at the Hansa Class Nationals at Waitara. The popular “Hansa 303” ballasted-centreboard one or two person dinghy, is very suitable for training and for the B1s with supporting sighted crew, and handles well as a monotype dinghy for the B2 and B3 sailors. More sailors are now enjoying the simplicity and satisfaction of competitive solo sailing in Hansa 303’s. This Class is being considered for the Blind Sailing Nationals which failed to happen last summer. This relationship with disabled sailing organisations such as the Sailabilitys also offers a clearer training and participation pathway to more blind and Vision impaired persons who may wish to try Sailing as a sport or recreation.
