This was a landmark Visa GB trip, being the first we have organised dedicated to delivering an exclusive sailing opportunity for young visually impaired adults. The event was made possible by generous financial support from the Powell Family Foundation, and by UKSA, the United Kingdom Sailing Academy who kindly donated their yacht Chale, as well as our volunteer skipper and sighted crew who donated their time and skill.

This wonderful experience started and ended from Southampton Town Quay with sailing, and everything that goes with it taking place in the Solent UK, with port calls to Lymington, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, as well as Portsmouth, with anchoring and a swim in Osborne bay, and an explore up the amazing Beaulieau river.

The weather over the week was breezy with gusts and with a mixture of sun and showers.

The visually impaired sailors actively participated in all the boat activities, from raising the mainsail, trimming the sails, anchoring, food preparation and cooking, preparing the boat for mooring, as well of course to helming the boat in some challenging conditions !

Crew feedback was fantastic, as can be seen from the reports below, and the event inspired confidence, comradery, and seamanship, as well as introducing young visually impaired adults to the joys and challenges of being out on the water in a sailing yacht !

Date of trip: 04th – 10th August 2025

Where: Solent, UK

Boat charter: UKSA – Jeanneau 449, Chale

Crew:

VI’s (*Visually Impaired): 18-25 year olds: Meghan Forest, Ellie Puddicombe, Brandon Halcoup,
Zehra Younel, Erinn Lowe, Hannah Lowe

Volunteers: Linda Crocker (skipper), David Muldoon, Alex Stevens

Feedback:

Ellie:

I loved the trip. I had never been sailing before, so it was very interesting to find out how the boat works, and I loved listening to the sound of the water. I hope to come again, and the trip has also inspired me to spend more time on the water, where I can definitely go on more trips like this one. Thank you!

Zehra:

I had a great time during Young Sailing week. Each day, I learned more about Sailing, tried out different aspects of it, and gradually gained more confidence. It was wonderful to receive encouragement from others when tackling the tasks, which helped me to realise that I don’t need to be muscular to use the winch and go up to the mast, and I started to move confidently around the boat just after a few days. It was empowering to discover again how much I can do on a boat as a blind person. I improved many skills, from Sailing techniques to cooking. My favourite part of Sailing was helming with the wind, where I could feel the movement of the boat, the wind on my face, and sense how to steer the boat by feeling the wind. This event inspired me to take part in a racing event if Visa decides to organise one again in the future. Overall, I had a fantastic week sailing, gained tremendously valuable skills, made new connections and friends, and I feel truly empowered to continue sailing in the future.