When we sail we use all our senses, but the one we rely most heavily on is our sight. This was brought home to me when I took my first Wednesday night keelboat lesson several years ago. I had grown accustomed to using the telltales on the shrouds to get a general sense of the wind when sailing the dinghies. I even carried some bits of yarn in case the boat I was on didn’t have any. I took the helm on the keelboat on a dark night and--oh crap--I couldn’t see the tell tales. I struggled that night, but realized that what had started as an aid had become a crutch.
The last Monday night advanced dinghy class, we worked on sailing without any sight at all. But you don’t need a class to try it. First make sure you have decent crew who is not blindfolded, and that you’re in an area with a lot of space (few boats and no obstructions). Pick a day with moderate wind. Put a blindfold on and try to hold a course. Your crew can give you feedback. Try to feel the puffs of wind before they hit the boat. Pay attention to the balance of the boat. Listen to the sound of the boat moving through the water. Play with the main sheet. Can you tell when the boat accelerates and decelerates? Smell your gear, yeah, you should probably wash it. Try sailing different points of sail. If you’re feeling confident try a tack.
It’s as easy as bagging womp rats back home in Beggar’s Canyon.