British sailors secure triple gold at inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships

British sailors delivered a standout performance at the first World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Mussanah, Oman, claiming three gold medals and a bronze across the four international fleets.

A total of 28 nations and more than 127 sailors took part in the inaugural championship, which brought together disabled athletes racing under a unified classification system.

The four-title format – Hansa 303, RS Venture Connect, ILCA 6 and FarEast 28R – provided competitive opportunities for sailors with physical, visual and intellectual impairments.

In the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303) division, Rory McKinna won gold by the narrowest of margins, sealing victory by a single point over Portugal’s João Pinto after a closely fought final race. McKinna’s consistency earlier in the series proved decisive, keeping him in contention despite intense pressure from rivals.

"I wasn't quite sure what to expect at this new event but the entry list looked promising,” Rory commented.

"There were plenty of familiar faces, sailors I hadn't raced against in years, and some new characters as well.

"The win was pretty cool. It's a good way to end what has been my busiest year of sailing.”

Britain secured a second title in the Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6) class, where Murray MacDonald – founder and Director of Autism on the Water – established an early lead and maintained it through the final day. His steady scores across mixed-condition racing earned him a comfortable margin over the chasing pack.

The British contingent added a third gold in the Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R) fleet, as Lucy Hodges MBE skippered her crew to victory. A second GBR team, led by Karl Haines, took bronze to underline Britain’s strength in the class. The fleet’s close tactical racing showcased strong communication between visually impaired helms and their sighted crew and tacticians.

Lucy, also Commodore of GBR Blind Sailing, said: "Competing at the Inclusion World Championships in Oman has been a proud and defining moment for our team and for the wider para and inclusive sailing community.

“The level of competition, the spirit on the water, and the shared determination of every athlete showed exactly why inclusion in sport matters so deeply.”

GBR at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships

One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303)

Gold – Rory McKinna

Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6)

Gold – Murray Macdonald

Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R)

Gold - Lucy Hodges, Jamie Tylecote, Liam Cattermole, Steve Tylecote
Bronze - Karl Haines, Colin Midgley, Gary Butler, Martin Phillips
4th - Vicki Sheen, Ian Shirra, Jonathan Cormack, Toby Davey

Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect)

13th – Daniel Sadler-Kate Healey
17th – Adam Billany-Shaun Billany
20th – Justen Bersen-Edward Scott
23rd – Tobias Owen-Antony Williams

Images World Sailing/Vincent Curutchet