I am Skipper of the Lost At See Blind Sailing Team, the only team to represent Australia in the 2023 International Blind League Racing Championships in Rutland England in November.

My team won Silver in the totally blind division of the 2013 and 2019 Fleet-Racing Worlds, and Gold in the 2014 Match-Racing Worlds.

I am delighted to be joined for this regatta by my long-term mainsail trimmer Erin McGlew, and new recruits Del Kilcullen, sighted tactician and Kiara Parkinson, sighted jib trimmer. We sail out of Royal Perth Yacht Club. We are the only blind sailing team in Australia, and therefore our only opportunities to race are at the international level. As all competitions have been suspended since the pandemic, this will be our first opportunity in four years to compete.

It is incredibly empowering to be able to skipper and trim a boat as a blind sailor, and our sighted team members are vital to help us navigate and manoeuvre between other boats, all of whom are sailing at close-quarters and determined to win.

we hope our involvement in this regatta will help reignite interest in blind sailing in Australia, and help us to build a program dedicated to introducing more people with vision impairments to the joys of sailing, and the excitement of racing. It will also serve as the beginning of our campaign to compete in the 2024 World Blind Match-Racing Championships.

As we are largely self-funded, I urgently need your help to raise $8,000 to cover such costs as the entry fee and damage deposit, as well as my travel and accommodation. Even $25 will help bring me that much closer to England.

With only weeks to go until the championship, I need your help to get me to Rutland, and to fulfil my dream of competing again for Australia.

Through my partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation, any donation you can give over $2 is tax deductible, and every cent will help me get to the regatta!

Thank you so much for your encouragement and generosity.