Blind sailors do not require special boats or special adaptive equipment to sail.  An orientation to the boat is required and some tactile markings are preferred by some.  The type or design of boat preferable is one that is large enough tocarry a crew of four while small enough to provide a responsive helm, that enables the blind sailor to exhibit his/her "seat of the pants" sailing ability.  Boats with tillers are preferred over boats with wheels so that the blind helmsman can gain a better feel of the helm.  Blind sailors have successfully sailed and raced all sizes of boats, from small dinghies to large racing and cruising boats. A responsive helm is more of a factor than the boat size or design.  Blind Sailing International Regattas have included boats ranging in size from the 23 foot Sonar to the 36 foot Farr design. The size and design has often been dictated by the sailing venue and the availability of boats.  However, since the recent BSI Regatta in Miami was sailed quite successfully in Sonars and the Sonar appears to be the boat adopted by IFDS, BSI will consider the Sonar as the boat of choice for future international regattas.

 

Boat used in 1992 Worlds. Auckland New Zealand. MRX 10.5 metre Bruce Farr design form match racing	Boat used in 1994 Worlds, Fremantle Australia. 36 foot Farr designed for match racing.
Boat used in 1997 Worlds. Weymouth England. Beneteau First 8.5 metre displacement hull.	Hunter 707 light displacement.
	All the boats displayed are being helmed and mainsheet trimmed by Blind or Vision Impaired persons
Boat used in the 1999 World Championships Miami, Florida. Sonar 23
Boats used at the 2002 World Championships, Gargnano Italy, Protagonist 7.5 sportperformance racer	Dolphin 8.5 high performance racer
Boats used at the 2006World Championships, Newport Rhode Island, Sonar	The J22 performance sailboat