Win on Lake Rotorua

Chairman of Blind Sailing New Zealand Dick Lancaster won a silver medal in a 25-foot yacht at the 2009 World Championships held on Lake Rotorua in March. Lancaster told CNN that sailing for the blind and visually-impaired is growing around the world. There is also hope that the sport may get its own category at the Paralympics. “This year’s event was as big as it has ever been. We had ten countries represented and most countries sent three teams,” Lancaster said. “We sail with a four man crew. There is a blind person at the helm and another blind person on the mainsheet. There is also a sighted tactician, who’s not allowed to touch anything, and a fourth sighted crew member. The most challenging thing for me has been the last few years when I have gone from B2 to B1 (blind). You have to rely on your feel a lot more now,” he said. New Zealand won the overall team trophy at the event.