Yachtsman Ben Geddes is making a point because appearances are deceiving. He doesn't look blind and he certainly doesn't act it either.

'That's a heat pump,” he says, straining his failing eyes at the wall 10m away. 'I can't see it clearly, but I know the shape of a heat pump.”

Although sight impaired, that hasn't stopped yachtsman Ben Geddes from achieving his vision. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

And he can also see the 42” TV to one side. 'I know it's a TV because it's flickering, but I have no idea what the pictures are about.”

Visual issues impact many people in varying degrees. In Ben's case, he's legally blind. He has a condition called 'optic atrophy”, which means images aren't properly transmitted from the retina of the eye to the brain.

Everything at a distance is a blur and up close he has to draw things in to point blank range.

'You might watch me and think I need glasses,” he says.

Glasses wouldn't cut it. He suffers severe short sightedness. It's called Myopia and 'it's damned frustrating,” admits Ben.

If he's legally blind, how can he be a sailor? Sailors need to see things, so how can he be selected to represent New Zealand at an international sailing regatta?

How can he realistically fulfil a personal ambition to sail around Cape Horn like sailors of old? Wouldn't he be a menace to himself and others out there on the briny?

The 29-year-old laughs at the idea. He's been a 'blind sailor” for six years and 'blind sailing” has been an international sport for many more.

Besides, Ben loves the water, boats and sailing.

'It's all about sensation,” he says. 'Blind sailors work a lot on feel, feeling how well the boat is moving, feeling the angle of the heel and the acceleration.”

He will have eyes on the boat when he represents New Zealand at the IFDS Blind Fleet Racing World Championships in Chicago during September.

Ben's job on board is helmsman – he's the Peter Burling. He steers the yacht under direction from sighted tactician Brian Trubovich.

He's joined by Rachel Shardlow, who is also legally blind. She is the main sheet trimmer, meaning she controls the ropes that set the mainsail to maximise boat speed. She's also across weather conditions, the opposition and what the helm's trying to achieve.

And the bowman – yet to be selected – looks after the trim of the headsail. There's a prerequisite for good communication and direction.

Blind Sailing is nothing new and Ben Geddes isn't new to it.

He competed at the previous worlds in Miura, Japan. He got a gold medal for hard work and second overall. The focus this year in Chicago is the Squadron Cup – the supreme prize.

'From starting out six years ago to winning a gold was an amazing feeling,” he says. 'I pretty much haven't missed a race since. Now I want gold.”

But there are some hard yards first. Ben will be regularly travelling to Auckland for a formal training regime.

And like it is for many sports, representing New Zealand comes at a cost. Ben has to contribute $3500 towards his ticket.

If you wish to help ben reach his goal, there are a number of ways you can do so.

There's a coin jar at Pronto Gourmet Burger Bar at Main beach in Mount Maunganui, and if you buy either an American Burger or Mexican Burger at Pronto a dollar will go into his fund.

You can also visit the GiveALittle website at: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/blindsailingnewzealand

Ben is also more than willing to trade time for money. He's willing to work or assist in business to raise funds. Email him at: bengeddesevents@gmail.com