Solent Discovery: Setting Sail from Southampton

The sun is out, the winds are fair, and the VISA-GB team has officially swapped the office for the open water. Our week-long voyage began in Southampton, marking the start of a coastal exploration through the iconic waters of the Solent.

Life on the Water

The weather has been spectacular, providing perfect conditions for both seasoned sailors and those finding their sea legs. Most importantly, our VI and blind sailors are thoroughly enjoying the trip, taking an active role in handling the yachts and embracing the freedom of being out on the water.

We are making our way towards the Isle of Wight, stopping at various harbours and coastal spots to take in the atmosphere and the fresh sea air. The energy on board is brilliant; there is something uniquely grounding about navigating the coast, and the team is making the most of every nautical mile.

A Note of Thanks

This journey has been made possible by the fantastic team at UKSA in Cowes. We are incredibly grateful to them for allowing us to charter their yachts, ensuring we have the best equipment to navigate the journey safely and in style.

Current Status:

Departure: Southampton
Destination: Cowes, Isle of Wight
Conditions: Clear skies and smooth sailing
Spirit: High!

We look forward to sharing more updates as we continue our trek across the Solent. Stay tuned for more from Max’s Photos as the trip progresses.

A piece of creative writing, a fictional story based on by Steph a VI Sailors experience.

Sailing Blind: No Passengers, Just Participants

I happened to be the nearest to the wheel when it was time to leave Southampton Town Quay. The skipper told me to feel for the throttle and I found myself reversing our 44ft sailing boat out of our mooring and out of the port! I hung on the skipper’s every instruction and description, my knuckles white, my heart racing.

I’d thought the sailing might be dumbed down to allow for the minimal sight that half the crew had, but the sighted crew had blind faith. My introduction to sailing was definitely to hit the deck running.

I remained at the helm for over two hours. Without the sight to clearly see the direction of travel or the sails, I was steering by feeling the wind direction on my face and tuning in to the various sounds the sails made and the occasional instructions from the skipper.

Meanwhile, the three totally blind crew members were doe-si-doe-ing around the cockpit – tacking and jibing like seasoned sailors who’d sailed together for years.

Wind speeds got up to 34.5 mph and it took every bit of my concentration and physical strength just to stay upright and hold the wheel steady. After over two hours at the helm I shouted if anyone else wanted ‘a turn?’ I went below deck to grab another layer and was thrown all over the place. Upon rising, I felt my breakfast rising, and feared we’d be reunited.

Ahead of the trip, I was more nervous about cooking for the crew than I was sailing. I ruminated endlessly about recipes and decided on risotto, a simple dish familiar to me.

Due to stove space, pot availability and mouths to feed, my simple one-pot dish had to be made in two pots. This meant looking after two dishes which irrationally seemed to cook very differently. I’d seen bigger toy kitchens and the stove, I dramatically discovered, swung to stay level as it hung from a pivot point!

Somehow I resisted redirecting the wine for the risotto to personal consumption, and after over an hour of stirring and swearing, I handed over to the sighted sailor, who happened also to be a professional chef. He said I was ‘brave’ for choosing risotto, courage I could not take credit for.

Having stepped down from cooking, I redirected the wine and stopped caring. Upon learning the crew didn’t like all my ingredients, I sold dinner as, ‘build your own risotto’ and somehow it worked out ok.

On day one we’d braved the winds and waves and sailed to the Isle of Wight. There was not enough wind on the remaining days to sail so we learned the ropes and I had a solo swim in the Solent – no one else fancied it! We pootled to surrounding marinas sampling local gins and ice-creams.

I’d been on my first VISA (Visually Impaired Sailing Association) sailing adventure and it wouldn’t be my last. We’d had plenty of wind,
then not enough wind ….,’ that is sailing for you’ I was told and so it was.