A woman from Berkhamsted was part of the victorious sailing team at the Blind Match Racing World Championships.
Judith Spencer (pictured third from right), of Northchurch, competed in a week of sailing from June 22 to 28 at Base Nautique de Sciez in France. Judith and her team won the gold medal following their outstanding victory of seven wins out of seven races.
The team of sailors, who are blind or partially sighted, also included Lucy Hodges and Sharon Grennan, supported by coach Ian Shirra.
The team manoeuvred their craft around the marked courses using only their keen hearing to help them make tactical decisions.
A separate British team claimed the silver medal, while France won the bronze.
Judith was sponsored by Berkhamsted Rotary Club, who have sent a message of congratulations to the victorious team.
They said: “Despite facing powerful competition from many countries, they were the winners! Many congratulations from all our members to Judith and her colleagues.”
The whole event was a cause for celebration, as it was the first edition of the Blind Match Racing World Championships since before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Hannah Stodel, from World Sailing, said: “This was a fantastic return to action for the Blind Match Racing World Championships and an epic performance from Sharon Grennan’s team. The quality of sailing on show throughout the week shows the strength of the entire Match Racing fleet!”
Judith has long been involved in competitive sports, having represented Hertfordshire in sailing in her youth. However, she was later diagnosed with the degenerative eye condition retinitis pigmentosa.
Since 2019, Judith has become involved in blind sailing, which she says has reignited her passion for the sport and helped her regain her skills.
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