A BLIND sailor from Yate is going to represent Great Britain at the 2019 Blind Sailing World Championships.

Mark Austen, 55, lost his sight after a head on collision with a lorry 25 years ago.

He was left with less than 30 per cent vision in one eye.

Despite the injuries sustained in the incident, Mark is a keen sailor and regularly takes part in events all over the country.

Now though, he will be representing his country on the international stage.

Austen has trained and sailed with the GB Blind Sailing team for four years and his training, sailing and racing have been self-funded, with extra assistance from the Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury and other groups in the area.

Mark only started blind sailing in 2015, but has quickly found himself moving through the ranks as he improves his ability alongside the others at Team GB.

“When I started sailing with British Blind Sailing in 2015 I set myself the goal of representing GB at Blind Sailing in the World Sailing Championships for Blind and Partially Sighted people,” Mark said.

“I am so proud that I have been selected to race alongside the rest of the Great Britain team.”

Mark will now travel to the Kingston Yacht Club, Ontario, Canada, in September to take part in the championships.

The event will be taking place on Lake Ontario.