World Championships for Blind Fleet racing 2019

The World Championships for Blind Fleet racing was held for the first time in Canada, with Kingston Yacht Club generously hosting the event from Sept 2nd to 8th. Fourteen teams from Australia, France, Great Britain, Japan, the USA, and Canada participated with all teams sailing fourteen races over the week-long event. The teams were challenged by a wide range of weather conditions from very light and shifty to over 20 knots.

There are 3 separate sight divisions in Paralympic blind sports – B1, B2, and B3. The overall squadron cup totals the result from all three fleets for each country. Canada finished second to Great Britain, the best overall result Canada has had in World blind fleet racing.

Thank you to the seven club members who graciously loaned their personal 24ft Sharks to form the fleet for the regatta, and another thank you to all who have supported the Canadian team in accomplishing these best ever results!

Blind_Worlds_Final_Report for the full write-up on the Canadian teams and their results, including more photos!

Photo: Geoff Webster (www.photoone.smugmug.com/)

Members of the Canadian Team

Back Row:  Hub Steenbakkers, David Brown, Robin Wynne-Edwards, Ryan Van Dyl, Brian Arthur, Tony Snell – Middle row: Melodie Gummer, Ginny Duff, Chris Jonas, Tammy Adams – Front row: Jodi Munden, Peter Van Rossem

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