Conditions were excellent, as has been the case for the entire week, allowing the sailors to showcase the skill and tactical brilliance of Para Inclusive Sailing across all four classes.
In the Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect), the Polish team of Piotr Cichocki and Olga Gornas-Grudzien overcame a disqualification in the sixth race to post two more wins and seal gold. Pau Toni Homar and Ramon Gutierrez of Spain saved their best form for last, climbing the leaderboard in the final series of races to take silver with victory in the last race. The team of Vasilis Christoforou and Thodoris Alexas in Greece-1 took bronze after finishing second in the final race while the Norwegian pair Stian Kristiansen and Elliot Finnestrand finished fourth, level on points with the Greek pair.
Final positions in the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303) competition came down to the final race after João Pinto of Portugal almost mounted an epic comeback. In the end, Great Britain’s Rory McKinna held on to win by a single point, meaning Pinto had to settle for silver. Japan’s Takumi Niwa was also nearly claimed silver but ended the competition in third, one point behind Pinto. Gauthier Bril from France finished fourth, again just one point behind.
Great Britain’s Murray Macdonald sealed gold in the Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6) event after ending every day in first place with six wins from 10 races. Marwan Suloom of the UAE claimed silver with four successive top two finishes – including winning the final race. Man Hong Leung from Hong Kong, China, finished third to take bronze, and narrowly edging out compatriot Tsz Hin Cheung in fourth.
Great Britain-2 skippered by Lucy Hodges entered the final day with gold in her sights and a commanding lead in the Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R). She sailed well, as she had all week, to confirm first place ahead of Dani Pich of Spain in second and Karl Haines of Great Britain in third, overtaking fellow Brit Vicki Sheen in the last series of races. Sheen finished in fourth and Kylie Forth of Australia finished fifth.
At the closing ceremony, the success of the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships was hailed by His Excellency Dr Laila bint Ahmed Al-Najjar, Minister of Social Development for the Oman government.
He said: “We are deeply proud of what we witnessed today at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, and of the remarkable performance and exemplary sportsmanship demonstrated by all participants. Their achievements reaffirm that persons with disabilities possess exceptional capabilities and great potential, and that they are fully able to compete and excel at both the national and international levels.
“This championship is not merely a sporting competition; it carries a profound humanitarian message that reinforces the principle that sport is a right for all — a right enshrined in the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This law ensures their empowerment and facilitates their equal participation with others in camps and in cultural, sporting, and recreational activities at the local, regional, and international levels, ultimately contributing to strengthening their active engagement in society and achieving full and effective inclusion."
Dr Khamis Salim Al Jabri, CEO of Oman Sail, commented on the importance of this event to the future of Para Inclusive Sailing, saying: “Twenty-eight nations came together on the waters of the Gulf of Oman, reaffirming that sport is a universal language, one that transcends borders and unites people under the banner of ambition and achievement.
“This first-ever edition has written a new chapter in the global journey of Para Inclusive Sailing, placing the Sultanate of Oman—through Oman Sail—at the forefront as the first country in the world to host this championship. It marks a springboard for future editions and a pivotal step towards integrating para sailing into upcoming Olympic competitions.”
Hannah Stodel, Para Sailing Manager at World Sailing, closed the event with a rousing speech about the future of Para Inclusive Sailing.
She said: “Sailors came from every corner of the globe, arriving with determination, joy, and the fierce competitive spirit that defines Para Inclusive Sailing. Whether this was your first event or your fiftieth, you have been nothing short of inspirational.
“This week we saw courage, tactical brilliance, grit, heartbreak, triumph, and some of the purest sailing I’ve ever witnessed. Medals tell one story - but showing up tells the real one. And every single one of you showed up. For yourselves. For your teams. For Para Inclusive Sailing. For the future.
“This championship marks a turning point. A bold, unapologetic statement that Para Inclusive Sailing belongs on the world stage - not hidden, not sidelined, but central to our sport’s future. We are building something monumental together.”
This event in the Sultanate of Oman marked the start of a new high-level international competition for Para Inclusive Sailing. A total of 127 participants from 28 nations competed throughout the week out of the 155 from 37 nations who registered. Despite the challenges which prevented these nations from travelling to Oman, the first edition of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships has been a success and sets in motion a new era for Para Inclusive Sailing.
The championships were 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, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Experience Oman, and the Al Batinah South Governorate; and Bronze Partners Barceló Mussanah Resort, OXY Oman, Visit Oman, Tanuf, and Mazoon Dairy.
