Indoor records and Ocean rewards: James Coxon’s journey back to sailing

A Return to the Water

Coxon’s sailing roots trace back to his younger years racing Lasers, where his talent earned him a spot on the British squad. After completing university, however, he stepped away from high-level competition and transitioned into other pursuits.

Life took an unexpected turn when Coxon was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neuron disease, a condition that eventually caused him to lose the function of his left arm. Forced to adapt, he discovered an outlet in para-cycling.

Breaking Barriers on Two Wheels

Never one to sit idle, Coxon approached para-cycling with relentless focus. Following his retirement from work, he poured his mind and body into pushing human limits.

“I thought I’d devote myself to doing something special,” Coxon recalled.

That devotion paid off. Over his cycling career, he broke four world records in recumbent cycling, culminating in a Masters 1-hour two-wheel recumbent world record just a few weeks before arriving in Portugal. Pushing through gruelling schedules of 15 to 20 hours a week – often alone in a shed mounted on a stationary trainer – the sacrifices were immense, but the accomplishments were deeply rewarding.

The Unmistakable Pull of the Sea

Despite his world-record feats on land, the pull of the water never faded. As the demands of elite cycling took their toll, Coxon realised it was time for a shift.

“I’m getting a bit old now, so I’m probably thinking about scaling down the cycling and going back to my roots in sailing,” he explained.

When asked what drew him back, Coxon pointed to something cycling could never quite replicate: “You just can’t beat the feel of sailing. You know, you just can’t beat the feel of being on the water and feeling the wind in the sheets, the sail, looking at the wind shifts. There’s just so much to it compared to cycling on a bike especially… it’s just a lovely feeling.”

Beyond the physical thrills, sailing provided a distinct therapeutic escape. While daily exercise was essential for his mental well-being during his cycling years, sailing amplified those benefits tenfold.

“Sailing takes you out of [everything]… You’re just concentrating on the wind and the waves, and not ruminating in your head,” Coxon shared. “It’s absolutely fantastic for that.”

A New Chapter in the Challenger Trimaran

For his return to international competition, Coxon opted for a brand-new challenge behind the helm of a Challenger trimaran. The trimaran appealed to him not only for its affordability and welcoming class association, but for its sheer performance.

“The boat is fantastic fun; it really gets a shift on and it’s really good fun in waves,” Coxon noted.

The choice proved ideal. On day three of the 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships, Coxon topped the Para Inclusive One Person Multihull standings. Racing outside the harbour through deep ocean waves and shifting gradient breezes, Coxon put together a commanding performance, locking in a 2nd-place finish followed by back-to-back victories.

“It was a good day… outside the harbor, some nice deep waves,” Coxon reflected. “I had a second in the first race followed by two first places, so yeah, very pleased. Can’t complain!”

Eyes on the Podium

Making his debut at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, Coxon has been equally energized by the atmosphere on land as he is by the speed on the water.

“The Inclusion Championships is great,” he said. “There’s so many people with different needs doing fantastically well. Takes your breath away… it’s just a lovely, lovely atmosphere.”

While appreciating the community spirit, Coxon’s competitive edge remains sharp.

“Obviously if I didn’t say I wanted to win, I’d be lying,” Coxon laughed. “I would like to win, but with sailing, you can never quite predict what’s going to happen. Doing well, and I’d especially like to be on the podium.”

From squad-level dinghy sailor to world-record power-cyclist, James Coxon has come full circle. And as he rides the waves in Portimão, he’s proving that no matter where the trail leads, true passion always finds its way back home.