World Sailing Inclusion Championships
The World Sailing Inclusion Championships is World Sailing’s flagship Para Inclusive platform: A pinnacle of competition event built to place Para sailors at its core, whilst ensuring inclusive sailors can compete on the same stage.
Vision
The purpose of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships is having a sporting pinnacle, World Class, high-performance event that places athletes with disabilities at its core. The Inclusion Championships brings together physical, visual, and intellectual impairment disciplines within one unified championship framework. The vision is to provide these athletes with a safe space to compete on the World Stage, whilst simultaneously pushing the boundaries of competitive Sailing.
Traditionally, Athletes with a disability had to present for “Classification”. They would have an in-person assessment against the International Paralympic Committee’s minimum impairment criteria, to see if they were eligible to compete. For more details about the classification process please see here.
This system within sailing previously left out those with disabilities that significantly affected their day-to-day life, but were unable to classify.
The Inclusion Championships is Inclusive. That means that whilst there will be Para Classification available, and Para-Specific Titles and Medals will be awarded, unclassified sailors, will be able to sail side by side with their Para partners in the same field of play. These Unclassified sailors sail in the “Inclusive Category”, alongside the Para Sailors. The top sailors of the Inclusive Category will also be eligible for prizes and awards.
Ability over limitation
The World Sailing Inclusion Championships are designed to celebrate ability over limitation – creating a visible, elite platform where athletes can compete with purpose, equity, and ambition. By bringing multiple Para Inclusive disciplines together and using accessible formats and equipment, the World Sailing Inclusion Championshipsaims to challenge perceptions and set a new benchmark for world‑class accessible sport.
Who can take part?
The World Sailing Inclusive Championships is open to all disabled athletes:
- Para Classified Athletes: Sailors who have undergone the Classification Process, appear on the Classification Master List, and are thus eligible for the World Sailing Para Titles.
- Inclusive Athletes: Sailors not on the Classification Master List, who declare a disability. They enter the “Inclusive Category”, and race on the same field of play as Para athletes.
Structure
The World Sailing Inclusion Championships is an annual competition; its inaugural edition was held in 2025 in Mussanah, Oman. In 2026 it will be held in Portugal, and in 2027 it will constitute part of the World Sailing Championships in Gdynia. Future editions will be communicated once confirmed for each cycle, and the World Sailing Inclusion Championships will join with the World Sailing Championships where relevant.
The website containing all details of documents, entry, information and results for the 2026 edition will be released soon.
Preceding each edition of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships is a three-day Inclusive Development Programme (IDP). The IDP is a training camp run by World Sailing Coaches, focusing on core regatta skills, whilst facilitating a truly inclusive atmosphere, with a focus on Emerging Nations.
Sporting integrity and fairness
The Championships are delivered to world-level standards with robust governance and a focus on fair competition.
Where Para titles are awarded, classification and eligibility requirements ensure results reflect sporting performance within the relevant pathway.
Delivery of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships is supported by World Sailing appointed International Technical Officials, helping ensure consistency and integrity across disciplines.
Equipment
The Inclusion Championships are designed with events at their core. Rather than designing the event around equipment, equipment is chosen to best fit the needs and adaption of the Events.
Awards
The titles, prizes and awards may differ between editions of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, full details can be found in the event Notice Board.
The below is a general matrix of how World Sailing titles are awarded:
| 1st Overall | Inclusive One Person Champion |
| 2nd Overall | Silver Medallist – Inclusive One Person |
| 3rd Overall | Bronze Medallist – Inclusive One Person |
| 1st Classified Sailor | One Person Para Champion |
| 2nd Classified Sailor | Silver Medallist – One Person Para |
| 3rd Classified Sailor | Bronze Medallist – One Person Para |
| 1st Team Overall | Inclusive Two Person Champions |
| 2nd Team Overall | Silver Medallists – Inclusive Two Person |
| 3rd Team Overall | Bronze Medallists – Inclusive Two Person |
| 1st team, comprising of wholly Classified Sailors | Two Person Para Champions |
| 2nd team, comprising of wholly Classified Sailors | Silver Medallists – Two Person Para |
| 3rd team, comprising of wholly Classified Sailors | Bronze Medallists – Two Person Para |
| 1st Overall | Visual Impairment Para Champions |
| 2nd Overall | Silver Medallist – Para Visual Impairment |
| 3rd Overall | Bronze Medallist – Para Visual Impairment |
| 1st B1 Team | B1 Champions |
| 1st B2 Team | B2 Champions |
| 1st B3 Team | B3 Champions |
| 1st Overall | Intellectual Impairment Para Champion |
| 2nd Overall | Silver Medallist – Para Intellectual Impairment |
| 3rd Overall | Bronze Medallist – Para Intellectual Impairment |
The Para Titles World Sailing distribute are governed by Policy K1, with oversight by the Para World Sailing Committee.