SailBlind welcomes visually impaired or blind adults (ages 18+) with the opportunity to learn the sport of sailing. No sailing experience is necessary for visually impaired or blind sailors to participate, we welcome all skill levels to join in on the fun!

SailBlind is a recreational program that offers various ways to participate, based on your goals and objectives for the summer. Whether you are just looking to go for a boat ride, looking to receive sailing instruction and hands on experience, or looking to refine your prior sailing skills and knowledge, we offer all of these!

SailBlind takes place every Saturday throughout the season from 9:00am to 11:30am. You will be on the water for 1.5 hours. The 2024 season will run from Saturday, May 11, 2024 through September 28, 2024.

• April 11, 2024 – Sailor Orientation via Zoom
• April 18, 2024  – Guide Orientation via Zoom
• Saturday, May 4, 2024 at CBI – Guide In-Person Orientation
• Saturday, May 18, 2024 – Start of SailBlind Season
• Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Join our SailBlind Walk for Independence team!
• Saturday, September 28, 2024 –  Official end of SailBlind Season

We sail out of Community Boating (CBI) in Boston on the Charles River.

Please note: there is no parking lot nor a drop off spot at the Community Boating boathouse location. We advise those using a rideshare company to be dropped off at our “meet-up spot” explained below.

Sailors and Guides will meet on Saturday morning at 9:00am in front of the Whitney Hotel (170 Charles St, Boston).  Our group will depart from the Whitney Hotel promptly at 9:00am and walk over to the boat house together.

Discounted parking is available at: Mass Eye And Ear Parking (MA-28 & Embankment Rd & Storrow Dr, Boston). To receive the discount, bring your parking ticket to the front desk at Community Boating where you can pay and receive the discount.

The drop off address is the Whitney Hotel, 170 Charles St., Boston. It’s recommended that you provide specific instructions to your driver to drop you off at the corner of Cambridge and Charles Street. *Make sure your driver is going to Charles Street in Boston and not a different town.

Sailors can participate in the SailBlind (Saturday mornings only) program FOR FREE.

As a member of SailBlind, you are required to enroll in Community Boating’s Universal Access Program (UAP) program. The membership fee for this is $50 or reduced fee of $1 up on request. Members in the UAP can schedule appointments to go sailing with one of the Community Boating Instructors outside of the Saturday SailBlind sessions by booking on the CBI “Schedule an Appointment” website page.

Sighted guides sail free and will receive a complimentary season membership to CBI, while sharing their time and expertise with the sailors.

Sailors are welcome to bring guests along! It is suggested to only bring 1 guest at a time to provide ample room for the other sailors in the program who have RSVP’d. Guests under 18 years old with adult sponsor’s supervision at all times. The adult supervisor will need to complete a CBI waiver on behalf of the child. 

If you are a guide dog user, you will work with the SailBlind director to determine the best plan of action for your dog while you sail. 

*Children interested in joining a junior sailing program, please contact Sam Pierson, Director of Sailing Programs, sam@community-boating.org

Safety and fun go hand in hand. Safety is one of our top priorities. All participants (guides & sailors) must wear life jackets while in sailboats. Life jackets are provided. Close toed shoes are also required. Other clothing suggestions will be discussed during the virtual Sailor Orientation Meeting and are also mentioned below.

Sailing occurs in a variety of weather conditions and participants must dress accordingly for the day’s weather. Clothing suggestions will be reviewed during the virtual Sailor Orientation that takes place before the start of the season.

Slight inclement weather will not be cause for cancellation. However, thunderstorms or extreme high winds would result in a cancellation. Sailors will be notified on the Friday evening before a Saturday session if sailing is canceled.

• Required: close toed shoes, water/water bottle (CBI has water fountains).
• Recommended: hat, sunscreen, snacks, change of clothes, warm layer, rain coat.

In general, we recommend bringing a small bag with you that includes the above items. If you’d like to bring your bag with you on the sailboat, we recommend you bring a waterproof bag as there’s a chance your bag will get wet. You also have the option to keep your bag locked indoors at the CBI facility in a locker. Two lockers are available and locks will be provided. Life jackets will be provided but if you have one you like, you’re welcome to bring it.

In our program, we typically sail in 22 foot Sonars. The Sonar is a keelboat with a fixed counterweight underneath, which provides stability and lateral resistance. These tend to be bigger boats with more stability and more sail area! These boats can comfortably accommodate 4 people total.

Are you a sailor looking to share your passion with visually
impaired individuals? Then join us as a volunteer sighted guide!

• You may commit to as few or as many Saturdays as you’d like.
• Sign up to attend 5 sessions and receive a 30-day season Community Boating membership.
• Parking reimbursement for all visits.
• Recruit a new guide to join and receive a $100 gift card.

Click Here to Learn More About Being a Sighted Guide (PDF)

Are you interested in spending a few Saturday mornings volunteering with the SailBlind team in Boston? Then join us as an onshore volunteer!

• Sailing experience is not required.
• You may commit to as few or as many Saturdays as you’d like.
• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• Sign up to attend 5 sessions and receive a 30-day season Community Boating membership.
• Parking reimbursement for all visits.
• If room permits for any given Saturday, ride along in a sailboat!

Click Here to Learn More about Being an Onshore Volunteer (PDF)