Sail for the Visually Impaired hits the water on Oct. 19

NEWPORT BEACH—The annual Sail for the Visually Impaired event returns to Newport Beach on Oct. 19, with American Legion Yacht Club hosting. The yacht club brings as many as 250 blind or visually impair guests – and their escorts – to Newport Beach Harbor to spend a day of sailing on the water.

More than 150 volunteers from American Legion YC and other yacht clubs contribute to the event, participating as sailing skippers, crew, escorts to and from the docks, meal servers, check-in personnel, marina control, parking staff and guide dog sitters. Boats must also be volunteered for the event.

Sail for the Visually Impaired was launched in 1990. Two members of the Women’s Sailing Association – Orange County (WSA-OC) took 15 blind people on a sail aboard a 40-foot sailboat. Bonnie Gibson and Bobbie Reed – the two WSA-OC members who hosted the 15 blind sailors in 1990 – found a host sponsor in 1991: American Legion YC and Post 291.

The Sail for the Visually Impaired event will be held on Oct. 19 at Newport Harbor Post 291, American Legion YC, 215 15th Street, Newport Beach. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.alyc.com/event-3120806 for more information about the sailing event and volunteering opportunities.

Those seeking more information can also email organizers at SVI@alyc.com.

American Legion YC can also be reached by phone at 949-673-5002 or 949-673-5070.

Last year’s Sail for the Visually Impaired was cancelled. The venue where last year’s event was set to be held was no longer available, organizers told the press in September 2018. The 2018 iteration of Sail for the Visually Impaired was scheduled to take place on Oct. 6.