In this episode of The Blind Chick Founder of Twin Cities Blind Sailing and co-founder of the U.S. Blind Sailing Association, Katy Boyd traces her vision-loss story, the freedom she found on the water, and how accessible sailing scales from youth camps to ocean racing. Topics include training blind helms with tactile and auditory cues, solo sailing in Mini-Illusions, safety and right-of-way on busy harbors, racing culture, mental-health benefits, and building national and global programs. Clear takeaways: sailing is teachable, teamwork matters, and access grows when local clubs partner and commit.

Contact Info

Guest/Org: Katy Boyd — U.S. Blind Sailing Association • us-blindsailing.org • Twin Cities Blind Sailing (donations for local growth via program page; national growth, contact Katy via the site)

Aftersight (network): [email protected]

• (720) 712-8856

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street

Guest: Katy Boyd

Producer: Jonathan Price

Series: The Blind Chick — an Aftersight Original

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Opening and guest setup

02:17 — RP diagnosis and reclaiming architecture

04:38 — First sail in Boston and falling in love with the water

06:57 — Harbor stories and the five-horn barge lesson

09:21 — Learning venues: Charles River to open harbor

11:45 — Stress, humor, and decision-making under pressure

14:09 — Big-race goals and “firsts” for blind sailors

16:31 — Youth camps, safe starter boats, and racing pathways

18:50 — Teaching philosophy: rigging, knots, and 3D lake maps

21:13 — Why blind sailors excel at the helm

23:38 — Team dynamics: blind helm with sighted bow calls

25:59 — Solo sailing in Mini-Illusions and guide boats

28:23 — Night sailing logic and nonvisual navigation

30:49 — Independent outings and learning limits (fishing fail)

33:07 — Apps, rules, and racing without assistive tech

35:29 — Practicing blindfolded skills safely

37:52 — Starting programs in Minneapolis and beyond

40:11 — Colorado partnerships and site growth

42:31 — Progress stories: fear to racing to solo

44:55 — Mental health, volunteers, and first-time nerves

47:18 — Transfer effects: confidence beyond the dock

49:36 — How to connect and donate

51:59 — Scaling nationally and internationally

54:18 — Inclusion on the line with Olympians

56:39 — Final message: do not accept imposed limits

58:42 — Close and Aftersight thanks