Sailor’s Insight: Reflecting on the first World Sailing Inclusion Championships

Our Para sailing community, from all corners of the world, descended on the Barceló Mussanah Resort in Oman in late November for the first official World Sailing Inclusion Championships. After many months, millions of emails, countless seminars and more than a few hair-pulling moments, everything finally came together for what became a truly magnificent event. 

Sailors travelled from 28 different countries. For some this was their first ever world championship, for others their first Para Sailing event, and for many of us, there was a deeper motivation; doing our part to help reinstate sailing back into the Paralympic Games. Whether sailor, coach or World Sailing staff member, that goal sits at the heart of why this event mattered so much. 

What was obvious from the very start, and right through to the end of the week, was that this event was not about sailors fighting purely for gold medals or trying to be the next Ben Ainslie or Pete Burling, far from it. What stood out instead was the incredible sense of community and mutual support shown by the sailors themselves, and the appreciation they had for the hard work being done by the organisers and World Sailing teams. 

What happened next, however, is something I will always be proud of. 

Rather than focusing inward on our own preparation, sailors came together as one big Para Sailing family. People put jet lag and exhaustion to one side and worked late into the night alongside World Sailing and Oman Sail to fix problems, rig boats and get everything ready so that racing could begin. As a competitor writing this article, I felt immensely proud watching sailors stop what they had planned to do and instead focus on helping the event succeed. That willingness to work together, especially under pressure, is what makes us human, and it is something that feels particularly strong within the sailing world. 

The three-day IDP programme gave competitors the opportunity to get the most out of the free coaching on offer. Sessions covered racing rules, mark roundings, starting procedures, Paralympic goals, sustainability and plastics reduction, anti-doping, and the importance of working together. For many sailors, access to this level of coaching and education is not something they can easily find within their own clubs, making the programme incredibly valuable. 

For some, the IDP was a chance to push performance further; for others, it was an opportunity to learn, adapt, and build confidence for the future. As sailors, we are hugely grateful to World Sailing and the outstanding team of coaches who collaborated so openly, sharing their knowledge, experiences and feedback to help us shape our own pathways within the sport. 

The IDP then led straight into the main event, the World Sailing Inclusion Championships which began with a spectacular opening ceremony attended by Omani dignitaries, World Sailing delegates, sailors, coaches and shore teams. It was an incredibly proud moment for each sailor to carry their national flag onto the stage, knowing they were representing their country at a world championship. 

It would be impossible to comment on every race and every winner without recreating a sailor’s version of The Lord of the Rings, so I’ll focus on the highlights. Over four days, the regatta was organised, managed and supported superbly by Oman Sail and World Sailing. Racing was run in multiple flights each day, keeping sailors, coaches, race officers and mark layers on their toes. 

Once again, the community spirit shone through. Sailors worked alongside shore teams to help wheelchair users in and out of boats, fix breakages quickly, and ensure everyone was signed in, rigged and ready to get on and off the water on time. It was remarkable to see how successfully the event came to life, perhaps even more so than many had initially dared to hope. 

Conditions in Oman were close to perfect: sunshine throughout, light winds building into strong afternoon sea breezes, manageable chop, and well-set courses combining windward-leeward and triangle formats. Racing was tight across all fleets. Positions were won, lost and won again, particularly in the RS Venture Connect and Hansa 303 fleets. The new Intellectual Impairment ILCA fleet was especially impressive, with almost all sailors having never sailed an ILCA before this event, yet still pushing themselves to the limit, with races often decided right on the finish line. 

A special mention must go to Omar Al Hammadi from the UAE, whose progress throughout the week was remarkable under the guidance of World Sailing coach Leo. Watching Omar round the mark in second place and finish third in one race was one of the most emotionally powerful moments of the event, and a reminder of what opportunity, support and belief can achieve. 

All too soon, the event drew to a close. At the closing ceremony, Para Sailing Manager Hannah Stodel spoke about the magic of the week but also reminded us that this was not the end, it was the beginning. We may be on the right tack towards reinstatement in the Paralympic Games, but there is still a long way to go, and it will take all of us to work together as a global community to make that a reality. 

Sailors were celebrated, volunteers thanked, and nations reflected proudly on what had been achieved. More importantly, we all left Oman with stories to tell and with the sense that the next chapter is still to be written. 

On behalf of all competitors, I want to thank everyone who made this event possible: Oman Sail, World Sailing, the coaches, race officials, shore teams, family and friends. And a very special thank you to Hannah Stodel, whose leadership and determination continue to drive this community forward. Without her, this journey back to the Paralympic Games would not stand a chance. 

Finally, while the event was magical, there was one person missing, our friend Jazz Turner. Jazz was unable to attend due to ill health, but she was very much with us in spirit. Jazz is one of us; someone we love, admire and draw inspiration from across the world. Jazz, from all of us, we send our love, thoughts and strength. Thank you for everything you have done to inspire so many of us to keep breaking down barriers. 

By Murray Macdonald