We Really Are The Champions

On September 13, veteran Ski for Light participants Amy Bower and Duane Farrar were crowned World Champions at the 2015 Blind Sailing World & International Championship, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club. Racing was held over four days in a variety of wind & wave conditions just outside Belmont Harbor on Lake Michigan.

Amy and Duane, along with their sighted guide teammates Denis Bell and Solomon Marini, sailed consistently well throughout the eight-race series, winning three races and finishing second in three others against teams from Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and the United States. All of the teams battled high winds, and waves and seasickness hit Duane and Amy's boat on Day Two; they were further challenged by light, oscillating breezes on Day Four. (Racing was cancelled on Days One and Three due to unfavorable weather conditions.)

During the races, Amy is responsible for trimming the main sail and its various controls while Duane, as the helmsman, steers the sail boat. Sighted crew Denis trims the sail and controls in the front of the sail boat while Solomon, as Tactician, touches no sailing controls and only communicates verbally with the rest of the team.

Amy and Duane's team clinched the Gold Medal with a dominating victory in the final race of the regatta. "The money was on the table, so to speak," says Duane, "And we responded with our finest effort. We sailed a perfect race when it counted most. I am so proud of what we accomplished as a team."

And it is a very close-knit team indeed. Duane began sailing and racing with Denis in 1997 and with Solomon in 2004. He and Amy have been friends for 25 years and it was Amy who first introduced him to both Ski for Light and sailing in 1996. "For years I tried to return the favor and pestered Amy to become my teammate and go racing with us," says Duane. "She finally agreed a few years ago and, even though she's still fairly new to racing, she's outstanding in her role on the team and she's a tough competitor." He continues, "Winning this championship is such a special achievement and doing so with such good friends makes it all the more so. We're all going to savor and enjoy this for a very, very long time."