Visually-Impaired Sailors Set Off On Journey Across Lake Ontario
Posted August 12, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Torontonians Frances Lake, David Brown and Randy Nelson plan to make it to Youngstown, New York and back by Sunday. The team is raising money for the Canadian Blind Sailing Team, who’ll head to the World Blind Sailing Championships in September.
“I have a little bit of sight so I could look out at the lake and thought, geez, I’d like to be out there and how can I do it, so when I learned that there was blind sailing I thought this is my opportunity because if it weren’t for this, I’d have no other opportunity,” Nelson said.
The three sailors will use a talking G.P.S. (Global Positioning System) and Braille compass to complete their journey. A safety boat will also be close by to help the team with docking and to assist should any problems arise.
“We’re working on our abilities, not our disabilities,” Lake said.
They’re also trying to raise awareness about blind sailing and are hoping to raise some funds to help send the eight-member team to the World Championships in Rhode Island, N.Y. Sept, 20 to 27th.
1999 was the last time a Canuck team competed.
If you’d like to donate or volunteer, contact Randy Nelson at (416) 627-6010 or email cbst@rogers.com.
Fore more information on the World Blind Sailing Championships, click here.
