Rory Strikes Gold at Inaugural World Abilitysport Beach Games

2025 continues to be a landmark year for 23-year-old Stewarton sailor and University of Dundee student Rory McKinna, who has added another international accolade to his growing list of achievements.

Rory claimed gold at the inaugural World Abilitysport Beach Games in Turkey (18–25 October), sailing a Hansa 303 Dinghy and building on his success at the Hansa World Championships in Australia earlier this year where he took Gold in the two-person category alongside Australia’s Jess Wong.

Despite only learning about the competition a few months prior, Rory embraced the challenge with unsurprising enthusiasm, staying true to his ethos of saying yes to new opportunities.

Heading into the Games with quiet confidence, Rory faced challenging conditions, including several days of light winds that favoured lighter sailors. Undeterred, he demonstrated exceptional consistency and resilience, dropping positions in just two races across the week - emerging as the dominant force and clear leader in the fleet.

Speaking on his latest win, Rory said:

“While my performance was strong, the win sort of is another unexpected one, especially since at the start of the year I didn't even know this this competition existed. It was really cool, we all had a good time.”

While in Turkey, Rory was honoured to take World Abilitysport President Rudi Van den Abbeele out for a spin on the water. Reflecting on the experience, Rory said:

“I took him out for a bob, because there wasn't much wind. It was definitely more of a floating experience! Rudi was previously a swimmer, and we agreed he probably could have swum around the marina faster than we were sailing at the time! But we still managed to go through the basics of setting the sails, steering, and how to work with the two in conjunction. We had a good chat out there!”

Beyond his international success, Rory remains committed to grassroots sailing in Scotland and across the UK, playing a key role at Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section at Bardowie Loch, a recognised RYA Sailability venue, helping to grow access to sailing for people with disabilities and inspiring others to discover the passion he found over a decade ago. 

Rory first took to the water at age 12, and since then has made a conscious effort to seek out opportunities, big and small, to gain experience and build a network within the sport. 

Exhibiting his dedication to making a positive difference within, Rory is also making a continued impact through his work on RYA Scotland's Participation & Development Committee. 

Looking ahead, Rory is balancing his sporting ambitions with academic goals, currently pursuing a degree in Urban Planning at the University of Dundee. He’s also preparing to compete at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Oman this December.