A 501(c)(3) Corporation

Last Updated:  Tuesday August 09, 2005

Welcome to the Foundation For Texas Blind Sailors, Inc. (TBS) website.  The goal of this site is to educate and promote the sport of sailing / boating for blind / visually impaired persons.

To start things off, let me introduce myself, I'm Jim President of the Texas Blind Sailors and  the  site administrator. I am also one of the blind sailors.  Please feel free to e-mail me at Jim@texasblindsailors.org with comments or question about our group.  Remember that we are not only looking for blind / vision impaired people but also sighted boaters to help.

 2002 was our first really active year for the group. As you will see we competed in two major sailing regatta's. The US Nationals in August of 2002 and the World Blind Sailing Championships In September 2002. 

  In 2003  our boating activities expanded to include some casual cruising on Galveston Bay, this will  include both sailing and power boating.  So come on in and look around and check back often to see what events are coming up.

    So you have some questions, how can the blind sail and do I need experience?  Blind sailors of course do not sail alone we always have a sighted person or person's along. They are our sighted crew. Depending upon your visual acuity they will provide as much or as little assistance as needed.  Do you need previous experience? NO, part of our goal is to teach sailing. My sighted guide  has always told me that his sailing instructor many many years ago used to tell him to learn to feel the boat and the best way to do that is to close your eye's. Believe it or not there is so much truth to that.  So, No experience is required just the desire to learn and have fun.