UK North Blind Sailing Association

Founded in 2009, the UK North Blind Sailing Association is a volunteer only led, local charity which aims to promote the participation in sailing of blind and partially sighted people in the North of England and North Wales. We aim to fund and organize sail training opportunities, provide safety equipment and waterproof clothing for our participants and to support the social inclusion of visually impaired people in our group events centred on and around sailing activities. UKNBSA is unique in pioneering the participation of blind sailors in mainstream (sighted) competition both at local club level and national Regatta level. A major and totally fundamental part of our activities is that we seek to reduce the sense of isolation and improve the emotional and physical well-being of members of the blind community. This helps address the significant and disproportionate degrees of social exclusion and health issues within the blind community. We use the term 'blind community' to include all people who are visually impaired.