Carrying forward a vision: Inclusive sailing grows in India

Hosted by the Royal Mysore Sailing Club (RMSC), the Foundation-level programme combined classroom learning with practical coaching, giving sailors, coaches and other participants the opportunity to develop their understanding of Para and inclusive sailing while building skills that could immediately be put into practice during the competition that followed. 

The programme was delivered by Para World Sailing Manager Hannah Stodel and World Sailing IDP Lead Development Coach Dan Jaspers. From the outset, the focus extended beyond sailing performance alone. Participants explored inclusive sailing, classification and the future of Para Sailing, alongside coaching approaches designed to help build sustainable programmes within their own countries and communities.  

That broader development objective was central to the programme. Participants were encouraged to consider not only what they could learn during the three days, but how they could use that knowledge to build inclusive sailing programmes across the region, develop their coaching skills and create future opportunities for sailors.  

On the water, the programme progressively moved from boat familiarisation, safe transfers, basic handling and sailing fundamentals into starting, tactics, strategy, racing rules and coached practice racing. Participants also worked in country groups, presenting and sharing their own learning, making the programme as much about developing people and confidence as transferring technical knowledge.  

Crucially, the learning did not end when the three-day IDP finished. 

Participants moved directly into the Eurasian Inclusive Cup, where the skills developed during the programme could be applied in a competitive environment. Coaching continued throughout the event, both on the water and through a dedicated WhatsApp group, allowing sailors to review racing, ask questions and continue learning throughout the week. 

This link between development, competition and ongoing support is an important part of the IDP model. Rather than delivering a standalone training course, the aim is to give sailors and coaches knowledge they can immediately use, then support them as they put it into practice. The programme also introduced participants to the wider development opportunities available through World Sailing and the pathway towards events including the World Sailing Inclusion Championships.  

India is also a powerful example of what sustained development can achieve. 

The progress seen in Mysore has its roots in the vision and determination of the late Captain Arvind Sharma. After attending World Sailing’s Inclusive Development Programme in Singapore in 2023, Captain Arvind returned to India determined to create greater opportunities for people with disabilities to sail and compete. 

He continued that journey by ensuring an Indian team attended the IDP in 2024, building knowledge and experience within the country rather than allowing participation to be a one-off opportunity. 

Three years after that first IDP experience, his vision is increasingly visible. 

RMSC is continuing the work he championed, with support from the Yachting Association of India, and India now has a growing group of sailors, coaches and organisers with experience of inclusive sailing. The progression from attending an overseas development programme, to developing domestic capacity, hosting an international IDP and competition, and now preparing sailors for the World Sailing Inclusion Championships demonstrates exactly why long-term investment in development matters. 

For World Sailing, the programme was therefore about much more than three days of coaching. It showed how knowledge shared through an IDP can be taken home, developed locally and ultimately create opportunities for many more people. 

With Indian sailors now preparing to join a strong international field at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão this October, the next stage of that journey is already underway.