Not just another day
US blind sailor Kris Scheppe and his wife Naoimi joined in on a sailing lesson today. Kris and I sailed together several times, but it has been a while. I had forgotten how rewarding and much fun it was. He is an amazing person and perhaps the only blind certified Sailing Instructor in the US.
Sailing is easy, and it does not require all five senses to do. Boats don't know if a limb is missing or the skipper is blind. The only sense that is indeed required is touch. The boat and the elements feed all the information needed. If one can feel the boat, the tiller, and the amount of heel it has, her motion through the water, where the wind is blowing from, then you can sail. According to Kris, the most challenging point of sail is downwind. The apparent wind is gone, and there is not much pressure on the rudder.
Check out the picture and video below. The interview with Kris provides insight into the life of a blind sailor.