Chicago to Host 2015 Blind World Fleet Racing Championship

Chicago, IL (April 3, 2015) – The Chicago Yacht Club, along with Sail Sheboygan and the Chicago Match Race Center, will host the 2015 Blind World Fleet Racing Championship from September 9-13.

After it was announced that the 2015 Blind World Fleet Racing Championship in Houston was canceled, these three organizations worked closely with Blind Sailing International to bring the event to Chicago for the first time.

“We here at the Chicago Yacht Club are fortunate to have nearby likeminded partners like Sail Sheboygan and the Chicago Match Race Center who are committed to providing venues for disabled sailing,” said Chicago Yacht Club Commodore Greg Miarecki. “We want to see events like this succeed, and we worked quickly to bring the Blind World Fleet Racing Championship to Chicago in 2015. We look forward to welcoming some of the best sight-impaired racers from all over the world to the shores of Lake Michigan this September.”

The 2015 Blind World Fleet Racing Championship event will bring the world’s top sight-impaired sailors to compete in four days racing out of Chicago Yacht Club’s Belmont Station. The last fleet race worlds in the U.S. was hosted by the New York Yacht Club in 2006.

“This has been an amazing feat of organization between three prestigious and highly experienced sailing centers,” said Vicki Sheen, chairwoman of Blind Sailing International. “We are really looking forward to coming back to the USA. The event will be critical to supporting the expansion of blind sailing and giving the opportunity for other blind sailors to develop their skills and join us.”

The event will host approximately 20 teams from all over the world — three teams from five to seven countries— to Chicago. The teams will sail in three divisions: Blind 1, Blind 2 and Blind 3. Each team sails with a sighted tactician/coach and may also have coach boats on the water.

As co-hosts, the Chicago Match Race Center and Sail Sheboygan are helping by providing boats and staff help to run the regatta. Competitors will race in Sonars and Tom 28s.

“The Chicago Match Race Center is excited to partner with the Chicago Yacht Club and Sail Sheboygan to bring this fantastic event to the Windy City,” said Tod Reynolds, director of the Chicago Match Race Center. “This will be a must-attend world championship for the adaptive sailing community with immaculately maintained boats and professional race management all hosted in the heart of one of the world’s must-visit cities.”

Source: Chicago Yacht Club