Competition intensifies on Day Three of the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships

Organised by Oman Sail, the first edition of this new global event brings together an exceptional lineup of elite Para sailors from around the world.

Sailors are competing across four internationally recognised classes: One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect), Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6), and Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R).

The third day of the championship saw continued strong competition across all four categories, with most leaders maintaining their positions as the final day approaches. In the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), Britain’s Rory McKinna kept his lead, followed by Japan’s Takumi Niwa and Portugal’s João Pinto, while Oman’s Malik Al Qurtubi advanced to 11th.

In the Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6) event, Britain’s Murray Macdonald remained dominant, with Hong Kong China’s Tsz Hin Cheung in second and the UAE’s Marwan Suloom holding third.

In the Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect), team Poland, featuring Piotr Cichocki and Olga Gornas-Grudzien stayed on top, Portugal represented by Pedro Câncio Reis and Guilherme Ribeiro moved into second, and Greece represented by Vasilis Christoforou and Thodoris Alexas placed third, while Oman’s Zaher Al Atbi and Hassan Al Lawati ranked 14th.

In the Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R) category, the Great Britain team led by Lucy Hodges continued to lead the fleet, followed by Spain’s Dani Pich in second place, while the British team led by Karl Haines slipped to third.

Marwan Suloom (UAE – ILCA 6) expressed his delight at reaching third place: “The competition is incredibly strong. Today’s results reflect our preparation and determination. We aim to deliver an even stronger performance in the final race day and proudly represent the UAE and Special Olympics UAE.”

Zaida Pérez Bugueño (Chile – Hansa 303) shared how meaningful the championship has been despite flight disruptions and a long journey: “The organisation, facilities, and accommodation is exceptional and perfectly suited for athletes’ needs. Omani hospitality is unique. I’m here to enjoy the experience—sailing for me is therapeutic, and on the water, differences disappear.”

Rory McKinna (Great Britain – Hansa 303) praised the event’s message: “This championship truly embodies inclusivity. The facilities are excellent and easy to access, and my performance has been improving race by race.”

Murray Macdonald (Great Britain – ILCA 6) described the day’s challenges: “The light winds and sea conditions made the racing demanding. I won the first race and recovered from a slow start in the second to take third. Focus is essential until the very last moment.”

The championship features broad international representation, with teams from across Asia—including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India, Hong Kong China, Japan, Korea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and host nation Oman – and strong participation from Europe, including sailors from Austria, Czechia, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Sweden.

The Americas are represented by Canada, the USA, Chile, Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, while Australia represents Oceania.

Read more about the World Sailing Inclusion Championships here.