A film documenting the journey of four blind sailors as they compete in national and international competitions will be shown Aug. 10 at the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Harbor.
The screening of “Sense the Wind: Blind Sailors Race Across Open Water” follows Nancy Jodoin, Inky Sengali, Matt Chao and Philip Kum as they hone their craft and learn not to fear what they can’t see.
The hour-long documentary follows the group as they train and compete in the Blind Nationals and move toward Japan’s Blind Sailing World Championships. The film will be followed by a Q&A with New York-based first-time filmmaker Christine Knowlton, who has worked in film and TV.
The screening is open to members and prospective members of the Women’s Sailing Association-Orange County and their guests and the American Legion Yacht Club.
The event will coincide with the 27th anniversary of the Sail for the Blind and Visually Impaired, where over 150 volunteers act as escorts, servers and crew for sailors in Newport Harbor.
Filmed over four years — including two years of post-production — the film chronicles the sailors’ travels to various locations, including Oakland, Boston and San Francisco.
Knowlton filmed each subject in and off the water, in their homes, at work and during doctor appointments.
“That’s what makes this more than just a sailing film because you really get to know these people,” Knowlton said. “I realized that just because you’re blind doesn’t mean you don’t see anything.”
The documentary was given a humanitarian award at the Socially Relevant Film Festival New York and has been screened in Poland, Moscow, Canada and Tokyo, as well as across the U.S.
The screening begins at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 10 at the Great Hall at the American Legion at 215 W. 15 St.