The second day of the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships
2025, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman and organised by Oman Sail, continued on Friday with intense
competition and participation from around the world. The races, held at the Musannah Sailing School at
Barceló Mussanah Resort, run until 8 December across four internationally recognised classes.
The championship showcases exceptional levels of skill and readiness, following a three-day specialist
training programme delivered by World Sailing to develop the capabilities of sailors, coaches, and race
officials, while reinforcing the core principles of inclusion and enabling athletes with different disabilities
to compete from a unified starting line.
A distinguished lineup of world-class para sailing athletes is competing in Oman with strong ambitions
for podium finishes. In the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303) fleet, competitors include Chile’s Zaida
Pérez, France’s Gauthier Brill, Britain’s Rory McKinna, Germany’s Jens Kroker, and Italy’s Alessandra
Franchi — all prominent names in the global para sailing arena.
In the Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect), Poland’s duo Piotr and Olga entered the competition
with confidence, joined by Britain’s team led by Adam and Jazz, Norway’s Henriette and Sol, and
Sweden’s Vea and Kro.
In the Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R) event for, Britain’s veteran Lucy Hodges leads, while Australia’s
Kylie Forth and Spain’s Dani Pich are also expected to deliver some of the championship’s most exciting
races.
The participation of these accomplished athletes brings exceptional competitive momentum to the
inaugural edition, promising thrilling and high-stakes racing as they contend for places on the podium.
The second day of the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships delivered strong performances and
close competition across all four classes.
In RS Venture Connect, team Poland, featuring Piotr Cichocki and Olga Gornas-Grudzien moved to the
top of the leaderboard after a consistent and powerful showing. Team Norway represented by Stian
Kristiansen and Elliot Finnestrand held on to second place following a series of tightly contested races.
Sweden’s Fia Fjelddahl and Patrik Rosenberg climbed into third, while Norway’s Henriette Smith and
Solfrid Lindhjem Kvinnesland slipped to fourth despite a strong start on Day One.
In the Hansa 303 class, Great Britain’s Rory McKinna extended his lead with another standout
performance. Japan’s Takumi Niwa remained close behind in second, and Portugal’s João Pinto held
third with steady, strategic sailing.
In the ILCA 6 class for athletes with intellectual impairments, Great Britain’s Murray Macdonald
continued to dominate, retaining first place. Hong Kong, China’s Tsz Hin Cheung moved into second,
while the UAE’s Marwan Suloom impressed with results that pushed him into third.
In the FarEast 28RS fleet for visually impaired sailors, Great Britain’s team led by Lucy Hodges
maintained first place thanks to exceptional coordination and technical skill. Spain’s Daniel Anglada Pich
advanced to second, while the British team led by Karl Haines dropped to third. Another British crew,
captained by Vicki Sheen, finished the day in fourth.
Justin Bridgemohan, from Trinidad and Tobago, said: “Everything is handled with great professionalism.
The services provided to athletes are excellent. The atmosphere is motivating, and the organisation
makes it easy for sailors to focus fully on their performance."
American sailor Dylan Young from Seattle, competing in Hansa 303, described the event as: “A world-
class championship in every sense. The organisation is exceptional, and the facilities are impressively
accessible. Everything is prepared to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.”
Nawaf al Ghadhani, Deputy Head of Sailing Schools at Oman Sail and Event Course Race Officer, said:
“The level of competition reflects the months of preparation undertaken by the organising committee.
The races are running smoothly and in full compliance with international para sailing standards.”
He added: “This first edition marks a milestone in the global journey of sailing for persons with
disabilities. Bringing athletes of various disability categories together in one competitive environment
promotes inclusion and supports the global development of this sport.”
Oman is represented by seven sailors from the SailFree programme in the RS Venture Connect and
Hansa 303, delivering promising performances.
The championship continues until 8 December, with final results to be announced during the closing
ceremony.
The championships are powered by Oman Sail and Oman Maritime Sports Committee and supported by
World Sailing’s global partners Musto and Kuehne+Nagel; Strategic Partners the Ministry of Heritage
and Tourism (MoHT), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), Experience Oman, and the Al Batinah South Governorate; and Bronze Partners Barceló Mussanah Resort, OXY Oman, Visit Oman, Tanuf, and Mazoon
Dairy.
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