Sailors gather from across the globe for inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships

Sailors gather from across the globe for inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships © World Sailing

The stage is set in Al Mussanah, in the Sultanate of Oman, for the first ever edition of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships.

When the Championship flag was raised by World Sailing CEO David Graham to officially open the event on 3 December, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 155 registered participants from 37 nations made history as part of inaugural edition of this global event dedicated to sailors with disabilities.

The ceremony also featured a parade of participating nations' flags and a visual presentation showcasing the values of unity and inclusivity embodied by this landmark edition.

Racing at the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships, organised by Oman Sail, will run over five days across four internationally recognised boat classes: Hansa 303 (one-person), ILCA 6, RS Venture Connect, and the FarEast 28R boat for visually impaired sailing.

Dr. Khamis Salim Al Jabri, CEO of Oman Sail, delivered a welcoming speech, saying: "It is an honour to gather today for an exceptional moment defined by inspiration and determination, as we celebrate the launch of the first-ever World Sailing Inclusion Championships, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman in conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This global event reflects the highest values of empowerment and equality, and highlights Oman's civilisational message of using sport as a bridge for communication, peace, and opportunity for all."

David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, expressed his appreciation for Oman's organisational efforts, stating: "Opening the event on 3 December, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, is a powerful symbol of our collective commitment. The goal of these Championships sounds simple but is incredibly complex: to celebrate ability over limitation. To provide an elite racing platform where every sailor, regardless of their physical ability, can compete with confidence, purpose and equity."

Over three days prior to the start of racing, World Sailing organised a dedicated Emerging Nations Programme designed to enhance coaching capabilities, improve sailors' technical skills and support countries in developing national inclusive sailing structures. The programme combined theory and practical workshops, reflecting growing global commitment to advancing Para and inclusive sailing.

The largest edition of the Inclusive Development Programme (IDP) was also held, providing invaluable coaching and training resources to 97 participants, helping to maximise the impact of national Para Inclusive Sailing programmes in more countries around the world.

In its first two years of implementation, the IDP reached 164 participants from 34 countries, making this edition a highly valuable addition to the global growth of the sport.

The World Sailing Inclusion Championships will see the debut of several nations in inclusive sailing, proving the potential of the sport to inspire diverse communities from all continents. Sailors from Bolivia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uruguay, among others, will compete for the first time.

Read more about the World Sailing Inclusion Championships here.