About Us

We are the Sailing Vision Trust, a UK-based charitable trust and community with a goal to make watersports, and especially coastal sailing, accessible to everyone.

Sailing for all

The Sailing Vision Trust (SVT) is a not-for-profit charitable trust comprising sighted and non-sighted Trustees. It is supported entirely by volunteers for the benefit of visually impaired people to participate in sailing and other outdoor activities.


The aims of Sailing Vision Trust are:

  • To manage, promote and develop SV Week as one of the foremost V.I. sailing events
  • To develop technology that helps and supports visually-impaired sailors
  • Support short introductions to sailing to encourage involvement
  • Support the development of skills through experience on the water
  • Foster and promote links with other like-minded organisations


"This isn't a holiday…we stretch our participants to do as much as possible"


Will Bridge, Sailing Vision Trust Associate
A close up picture of a VI male sailor at the wheel of an underway yacht. In the background is a racing yacht of the Land Rover BAR team, skippered by Ben Ainslie, passing at high speed raised on aerofoils.
A close-up, low-angle picture of a male VI sailor and sighted male crew at the wheel of a yacht. Both are smiling. The sighted crew wears a t-shirt with the slogan Master of Nothing. It's a sunny day.

Our Story

For more than 45 years, Sailing Vision Trust has been bringing blind and visually impaired people together with volunteer skippers, yacht owners and sailing communities to share the freedom and enjoyment of coastal sailing.


What began in the late 1970s as a pioneering sailing event has grown into the UK's largest event of its kind, supported by a dedicated network of volunteers, sailing clubs, marinas and partner organisations.


Throughout its history, one thing has remained unchanged: our belief that sailing should be accessible to everyone.


In 2021, the charity entered a new chapter with the appointment of a new Board of Trustees and the adoption of the name Sailing Vision Trust, reflecting renewed ambitions to expand opportunities for blind and visually impaired sailors across the UK.

Sailing Vision Trust Today

Today, Sailing Vision Trust continues to build on more than 50 years of experience, creating opportunities for blind and visually impaired people to enjoy the freedom, challenge and camaraderie of coastal sailing.


Our flagship event, Sailing Vision Week, remains the largest event of its kind in the UK, bringing together volunteer skippers, yacht owners and blind and visually impaired sailors for an unforgettable week of sailing each year. Hosted alternately in the Solent and Cornwall, it is made possible by the generosity of our volunteers, sailing clubs, marinas and partners.


Alongside Sailing Vision Week, we also support Med Week, offering blind and visually impaired sailors the opportunity to enjoy coastal cruising in the Mediterranean. Together, these events provide a range of sailing experiences while continuing to build confidence, develop skills and foster lasting friendships.


As we look to the future, Sailing Vision Trust is committed to expanding opportunities for blind and visually impaired people, growing our community of volunteers and partners, and ensuring that more people can experience the enjoyment and sense of achievement that sailing brings.