Sailors invited to first Paralympic Development Program clinic of 2018

In 2017, World Sailing’s Paralympic Development Program (PDP) enabled nine new nations to participate at the Para World Sailing Championships in Kiel, Germany.

Thirty seven nations raced at the 2017 Para World Sailing Championships and sailors from Latvia, Estonia, Chile, South Africa, Namibia, Portugal, Macau, Philippines and Turkey were able to attend thanks to expert coaching and support given at PDP clinics delivered in Argentina, France, Poland, Hong Kong and Germany.
 
Fraglia Vela Malcesine in Lake Garda, Italy will host the first PDP clinic in 2018 from 8 to 13 May with further clinics scheduled for later on in the year.
 
At World Sailing’s 2017 Annual Conference the following events, equipment and format was selected for Para World Sailing in 2018:
 

• Single Person Keelboat (Technical) – Open Gender – 2.4 Norling OD – fleet racing with a Medal Race
• Single Person Keelboat (Non-Technical) – Male – Hansa 303 – Short course fleet racing, supplied boat with a Medal Race
• Single Person Keelboat (Non-Technical) – Female – Hansa 303 – Short course fleet racing, supplied boat with a Medal Race
• Two Person Keelboat – Open Gender – RS Venture Connect – Short course fleet racing, supplied boat with late stage knockouts. The winner of the final race will win the event

 
All three boats will be available to sail at the PDP clinic in Garda and invitations to male and female sailors have been sent out to World Sailing’s Member National Authorities. The deadline for registration is 28 February 2018.
 
For further information, please contact Para World Sailing Manager, Massimo Dighe, via para.worldsailing@sailing.org.
 
The PDP clinics aid in increasing Para World Sailing participation globally and are an integral part of World Sailing’s Strategic Plan.
 
More information on the Para World Sailing Strategic Plan can be found at http://www.sailing.org/news/41208.php#.WJH0LLGcb-Y.