How can I continue to go sailing or boating if I'm blind or have low vision?

A wide variety of water sports involve boats. Some sailing and boating techniques may be easier than others for a person who is blind or has low vision, but all are attainable.

Here are some sugestions for boating safety and adaptations for people who are blind or have low vision:

• Always become well-oriented to the boat you plan to use.
• For sailing, boats with tillers are preferred over boats with wheels. Boats with tillers allow the helmsman who is blind or has low vision to gain a better feel for the helm.
• The most important feature to consider is the response of the helm to your commands.
• Rowing or sculling can be done by using a caller from a boat following behind.
• Adaptive equipment, such as an auditory compass or sonar or talking GPS, can be helpful.
• You can find the talking compass shown here at the Sailibility Equipment Directory [1].
• Try our sensory development exercises to increase your sound tracking and localization skills. See Maximizing all Your Senses [2] for more information. These are especially useful when you are out at sea or on a smaller lake.
• Join or visit a boating club near you for general boating and sailing safety tips.
• If you have low vision, discuss optical devices, such as telescopic lenses, with your eye doctor. Some of these devices may be helpful for visual spotting and scanning while you are sailing. See What is a Low Vision Examination? [3] for more information.

Resources for Sailing and Boating:

• Blind Sailing International [4]: Information about competitive sailing and adaptive technology for sailing
• Courageous Sailing Adaptive Sailing Programs [5]: Information about adaptive sailing programs and instruction for blind and visually impaired persons.
• Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors [6]: Offers training courses for new sailors
• Boat-Links.com [7]: Offers a number of links to associations for disabled sailing
• The Community Foundation of Ottawa [8]: Article entitled Boat named 'Dragon Eyes' that has extra meaning for a winning team with visually impaired athletes
• The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped [9]: Offers a number of boating books in large print and on cassette.
• See Sports & Exercise [10], Sports Groups [11], and Recreation, Sports, & Leisure Products [12] for tips, answers to frequently-asked questions, and resources for sports and leisure equipment and activities.