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"To empower people with vision loss to realize their full potential, and to shape the community's vision of that potential.”
Our mission statement reflects our value of an individual's right to lead as full and meaningful a life as he or she desires, regardless of impairment level. Our programs and services are designed to empower our clients to move beyond limitations.
Skipper's Invitational Sailing Excursion
“It was more than we bargained for and perhaps even better than we could expect,” remarked Cleveland Sight Center’s Greg McGrath in describing the first-ever Skipper’s Invitational Sailing Excursion. The agency’s program to teach people who are blind or visually impaired to sail began in 1995 and has been supported by numerous volunteer skippers, mates and crew members over the years. Clients from their 20’s to their 90’s sail along with their sighted counterparts on sailboats donated to Cleveland Sight Center. They do not just go along for the ride, but rather, are trained in all aspects of crewing a sailboat including operating the sails, tiller, engine and marine radio. Teams typically sail weekly from May through October for a few hours, with participating clients often describing a tremendous feeling of independence and accomplishment.
A “challenge” sail had been talked about for years. After months of detailed discussion, planning, and anticipation the Skipper’s Invitational was finally a reality. Two teams were selected to sail to Fairport Harbor from the East 55th Street Marina on a Friday on Coqui and Rainbow, along with a lead boat, with two separate teams selected to make the return trip the following morning. Participants were chosen for this special excursion, expected to last between 4-5 hours, based on their skill level.
There was an air of excitement and confidence for the challenging day ahead as everyone prepared for departure. The weather was sunny with east/southeast winds, and waves of 2-4 feet. After safety and equipment checks, a radio check, and plotting a north/ northeast course, the boats were underway shortly after 10:00 a.m. At about 11:30 a.m. George Connell, chair of the sailing advisory committee serving as a skipper on the excursion, reported that the boats were approaching Eastlake, cruising well. The next report was that the boats were encountering very strong headwinds and heavy seas with 8-10 foot waves. The boats were not making progress in trying to maintain an eastward course. It was estimated the trip would take another 7-9 hours from the point they had reached. After radio and phone conversations the skippers agreed to turn around and head back to Cleveland with the wind in their favor, ahead of an approaching Nor’easter. The work and adventure was not over as crews had to struggle with the winds, seas, and maintaining course to safely return to the marina at about 4:30 p.m.
Despite not reaching their planned destination, the sense of accomplishment at weathering a very tough cruise was evident amongst the crews. There were no disappointed sailors or volunteers. Once the boats were closed up the group spent time recapping the day. George Connell expressed it best by saying “I never thought that a group would not reach its goal but still be able to say they were successful.”
We thank members of the sailing program for accepting the challenge to attempt such a momentous excursion, the Sailing Advisory Committee for its guidance and support, Linda Pierce for organizing the countless details, our volunteers who made this possible and especially the sailors who learned that they can not only sail a boat, but they can encounter heavy seas and high winds along with the unknowns of the open water - and still be successful.
