Our Marketing Plans

The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain
Registered charity: 1178077

Marketing Plan for 2020-2021

Patron: Pip Hare, ocean racer and lifetime sailor.
Chairman: Dee Jones.
Founded: 2009 by Colin Fowler.

Pip Hare on the helm of her boat       Dee wearing a bobble hat at the wheel in Scotland

VISA-GB is run by blind and partially sighted sailing enthusiasts to help others to enjoy the freedom of sailing.

Introduction by Pip Hare:

The start of a new decade of empowering Visually Impaired Sailors

    • Increasing membership & volunteers
    • Delivering more sailing trips around the UK
    • Benefitting more visually impaired adults
    • Demonstrating ability over disability
    • Improving confidence and self-belief
    • Engaging with more clubs & associations
    • Building a sustainable organisation

“No passengers just participants”
Be a part of our future, and help us deliver the best sailing experience

Why choose Visa-gb and what it can do for you

Why leading yachtswoman Pip Hare became our patron and what she said:
“I was delighted to be approached by the Visually Impaired Sailing Association with a view to become their Patron. Having meet some of the Visa-gb sailors in 2019 I was extremely impressed by their approach and felt it matched my own. By empowering the visually impaired sailors to manage the complete boat trip it created a wonderfully positive approach to sailing. My own goals have been achieved by the same single minded determination I saw in these sailors, and I found it inspirational. By making sailing more accessible and fully inclusive I firmly believe we can make our great sport open to all. I am pleased to accept the post of Patron and ambassador for Visa-gb and look forward to supporting and helping them achieve their goals.”

What Dee Jones, chair of Visa-gb, said about Pip becoming our Patron:
“All of us at the Visually Impaired Sailing Association are thrilled that Ocean racer, and lifelong sailor, Pip Hare has agreed to be our Patron. Our charity will benefit from her enthusiasm, knowledge and determined attitude that will see her on the start line if this year’s Vendee Globe race. Pip embodies much of what we stand for, there are many that think we chase impossible dreams, but our blind and visually impaired members are determined not to allow lack of sight stopping them enjoying and benefiting from sailing. As our figurehead we know Pip will encourage us to achieve our ambitions. I also know that Pip will help us deliver our message to all in our community that Visa-gb will continue to empower our sailors, encourage all to learn new skills and enjoy their participation in our great sport.”

About us:
Started in 2009 by Colin Fowler with the clear purpose to empower visually impaired adults to become a part of a sailing crew rather than a passenger.

Over the past 10 years we have sailed thousands of miles in both UK and international waters. With a membership over 250 and an active sailing membership of over 100 visually impaired enthusiasts. We are the UK’s largest charity dedicated to offshore sailing exclusively for visually impaired adults.

Managed by a board of six trustees, all sail, and only one is sighted. We truly are an organisation run by and for blind and visually impaired adults.

“There is only one crew, no division, no isolation, we are one team”