Blind Sailing International August 2015 Newsletter BSI Chairman’s Update
It is mid-August, and the Chicago Worlds will begin in just a few weeks. Thank you to all those who have kept us informed about your training programmes and team plans for this very special World Championship in Chicago, IL, USA. Our hosts, the Chicago Yacht Club, the Chicago Match Racing Center and Sail Sheboygan, plus all the sponsors and volunteers, have been putting in long hours finalising arrangements for this event. Right now is the time to make sure you’ve completed the online boat and team registration process and have a place to stay in Chicago for the regatta. VI sailors must also download and complete the IFDS Sight Classification form prior to arriving in Chicago.
Accommodation Reservation Deadline: Friday, August 14
There are still rooms available at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in downtown with a special Chicago Yacht Club Room Block price of $189 per room (2 queen beds) per night plus tax. The deadline to reserve is the end of day Friday, August 14.
Team Registration and Entry Fee Deadline: Saturday, August 15 T
he NOR specifies team registration and the $750 USD per boat entry fee must be received before 1800 Saturday August 15. No refunds will be offered after August 15, and the entry fee will rise to $850 per boat.
Vision Classification Form
Please be sure all VI crew members complete the IFDS Sight Classification form and bring it to Chicago. Sailors who underwent sight classification at the Japan World Championships have the option to resubmit their 2013 Japan Championship sight classification forms, but may require re-examination onsite in Chicago. Registration, vision testing and practice sailing will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 and 9.
Individual Sailor Bios and Shirt Sizes
Regatta participants can help publicise this event and blind sailing by taking a moment to fill out a brief biographical questionnaire at the bottom of this update and emailing it to Vicki Sheen at Chairman@blindsailinginternational.com. I will pass on the information to the race organizers for inclusion in their publicity materials. Don’t forget to include the shirt size for each team member — vi or sighted — for your special 2015 Worlds racing ID vest. In addition to great racing, there will be some special events throughout the week. These include: the opening ceremony on Wednesday; a preview showing of “Sense the Wind”, the new documentary film about blind sailing; the annual general meeting of Blind Sailing International (open to vi and blind sailors and their supporters); a championship Celebration evening; Sunday’s Awards and Closing Ceremonies and much more. There will also be more details forthcoming on the 2016 Blind Match Racing Worlds and the 2017 Blind Fleet Racing Worlds. Blind sailors are coming to Chicago from across North American and around the world. Teams from Canada, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Wisconsin, Great Britain and New Zealand are all represented so far. Truly, this is an international event. I know some teams have sailors for whom the 2015 Blind Worlds will be their first international competition, while others have been to many events. All of you have knowledge and experience to share with each other, and that’s what makes this event so very special. Looking forward to catching up with all of you in September. Very best wishes, Vicki Vicki Sheen: Chairman, Blind Sailing International (BSI) Email: chairman@blindsailinginternational.com Mobile +44 (0)7841 421111 Skype: vicki sheen (Brixham) Email: vicki@isit.uk.com Twitter @vickisheen
SCHEDULE (DRAFT)
- Monday, September 7: Boats available for practice during regular hours.
- Tuesday, September 8: Registration, Vision Classification testing and sailing practice in the afternoon.
- Wednesday, September 9: Registration, Vision Classification testing and sailing practice in the afternoon. Opening Ceremonies in the late afternoon and evening.
- Thursday, September 10: Day 1 of racing and informal evening events.
- Friday, September 11: Day 2 of racing and informal evening events.
- Saturday, September 12: Day 3 of racing and the Championship Celebration.
- Sunday, September 13: Day 4 of racing and the Awards and Closing Ceremonies
Accommodations
Hyatt Regency Chicago Chicago Yacht Club Room Block $189 per room (2 queen beds) per night. Hotel Accommodations: https://aws.passkey.com/event/14100978/owner/2135/home Reservations must be received on or before August 14, 2015 Contact: Hyatt Regency Chicago: http://chicagoregency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html 151 East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois, 60601, USA Tel: +1 312 565 1234
Regatta Home Base
Chicago Yacht Club Belmont Harbor Station 300 W Belmont Ave Chicago, IL 60657 Tel: +1 312.861.7777 Chicago Yacht Club, Belmont Harbor Station, is on Lake Michigan 4.5 miles north of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Racing will take place on Lake Michigan east of the entrance to Belmont Harbor. The NOR contains a map of the racing area.
Online Resources Chicago Yacht Club: https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org
Hyatt Regency Chicago: http://chicagoregency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
2015 IFDS Blind Sailing Worlds and International Championship: https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/blindworlds2015
Notice of Race (NOR): https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/files/BlindWorldsNOR2015%20%5B4%5D.pdf NOR Amendment #1: https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/files/BlindWorldsAmendment1.pdf
Online Registration: http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_registration_email.cfm?eID=1368
Online Entries List: http://www.yachtscoring.com/current_event_entries.cfm?eID=1368
IFDS Sight Classification Form: Appendix A6 Vision diagnostics form https://www.blindsailinginternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Appendix-A6-Vision-diagnostics-form.pdf Chicago Match Racing Center: http://chicagomatchrace.com/
Sail Sheboygan: http://www.sailsheboygan.org/
Blind Sailing International (BSI): https://www.blindsailinginternational.com/
Sense the Wind documentary film: http://sensethewind.com/
Lions International video about blind sailing in Sheboygan, WI: https://youtu.be/qBlW6-yk8xM
2015 Chicago Worlds Participant Questionnaire
Please complete this questionnaire to help 2015 Chicago Worlds organisers provide background information on racing crews to the media and to raise awareness about blind sailing. Reply or forward this form to Vicki Sheen at Chairman@blindsailinginternational.com Thank you. Name (First, Last): Hometown, State/Province, Country: Shirt Size: S:____ M:____ L:____ XL:____ XXL:____ Which team are you racing with at the 2015 Chicago Worlds? What is your sight classification: B1:____ B2:____ B3:____ Sighted:____ What is your team role or position? National or regional blind sailing affiliation, if any: Sailing Location: How long have you been blind sailing? Is this your first Blind Sailing World Championship? If not, how many and where? Favorite aspect of sailing? Other biographical info, such as work, family, special interests?
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