This meeting was not an isolated event, but rather part of an ongoing strategic process aimed at strengthening the credibility and governance of the discipline within the International Paralympic Committee. Following the self-assessment presented months earlier, the international sailing federation has intensified its efforts to build a coherent, transparent, and global system capable of sustaining the growth of adaptive sailing in an increasingly demanding environment.

Classification as the foundation of inclusive sailing

The workshop brought together experts from around the world under the leadership of the newly formed Classification Subcommittee, chaired by Helen McKenzie, alongside figures such as Sarah Ross and medical and technical specialists contributing a multidisciplinary perspective. During the sessions, the focus was on aligning criteria with the IPC Code, establishing clear eligibility frameworks, and advancing the practical implementation of a system that ensures fairness in competition.

The presence of Sophia Papamichalopoulos reinforced the strategic dimension of this work. From her role in governance, she highlighted the importance of this process in ensuring the integrity of the sport and projecting its sustainable growth. In this sense, classification moves beyond being a purely technical aspect and becomes a shared language that enables athletes with different realities to compete on equal terms.

A global, collaborative, and evolving process

Beyond the technical work carried out in London, the process remains open to a global consultation involving athletes, coaches, and national federations. This phase seeks to gather experiences and adapt progress to the realities of those who live the sport from within, consolidating a participatory approach that has been a key driver of the recent growth of inclusive sailing.

From the adaptive sailing leadership, Hannah Stodel has emphasized the complexity of the classification system, but also its importance in expanding access without compromising competitive standards. At the same time, collaboration with entities such as the Royal Thames Yacht Club highlights how the development of the discipline is supported by an institutional network that enables these technical advances to materialize and project toward future challenges on the international calendar.

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The formation of this association, made up of five founding teams, opens a new chapter in the 174-year history of the America’s Cup. In a context where sustainability, stability and cooperation have become essential to the growth of elite sport, the ACP emerges as a collective response to contemporary challenges facing international sailing.

A historic alliance for a new governance model

The America’s Cup Partnership is composed of Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa, Tudor Team Alinghi and K-Challenge, teams that represent tradition, innovation and diversity within the global sailing landscape. Their joint commitment to shared governance seeks to establish more solid and predictable foundations for the development of the event, moving away from fragmented models of the past.

World Sailing particularly welcomed the teams’ decision to invest in a stable sporting calendar and sustainable funding structures. This approach, aligned with the priorities of the governing body, aims to strengthen the high-performance sailing ecosystem, providing greater clarity for athletes, teams, sponsors and fans, without compromising the competitiveness that has historically defined the America’s Cup.

Innovation, legacy and global projection

For World Sailing, technical innovation and sporting excellence have always been fundamental pillars of the America’s Cup. The new alliance not only preserves that legacy, but expands its potential by positioning cooperation as a driver of growth. As highlighted by its Chief Executive Officer, David Graham, this initiative has the capacity to expand the reach of the sport and connect new audiences with sailing.

Institutional support also underscores a global projection ambition: increasing athlete visibility, inspiring more people to sail, and strengthening sailing’s position within the international sporting landscape. In this balance between tradition and transformation, the America’s Cup Partnership represents a historic turning point that redefines how the sport can evolve without losing its identity.

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For World Sailing, the championship forms part of a decisive phase in the organisation’s strategy to consolidate the Para Sailing pathway. The federation is finalising the documentation required by the International Paralympic Committee -IPC- and the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, including the recent submission of classification compliance reports on 30 November, and its formal dossier for Brisbane 2032, scheduled for 15 December.

A global strategy reinforcing Para Sailing’s Paralympic ambitions

Racing is taking place across four internationally recognised classes: Hansa 303, ILCA 6, RS Venture Connect and the FarEast 28R for athletes with visual impairments. World Sailing highlighted that the introduction of both Visual Impairment and Intellectual Impairment categories strengthens the depth of Para Sailing and demonstrates the sport’s ability to integrate diverse impairment profiles within a standardised competition framework.

Ahead of racing, World Sailing delivered an Emerging Nations Programme to support technical development for coaches and athletes, alongside the largest-ever edition of the Inclusive Development Programme (IDP), which gathered 97 participants. In its first two years, the IDP has reached 164 representatives from 34 countries, a figure World Sailing considers significant within the materials presented to the IOC.

New nations and development pathways as key elements for IOC evaluation

This first edition has also marked the debut of India, Indonesia, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay in inclusive sailing, broadening Para Sailing’s international footprint. World Sailing will highlight this increased universality in the documents submitted to the IOC, which evaluates global presence as a key criterion for Paralympic programme inclusion.

The federation also noted the expansion of regional initiatives, including the second edition of the Asian Inclusive Sailing Series in Mysore, as well as the development of emerging disciplines such as Para Wing Foiling in Australia. These examples, alongside strengthened education and coaching pathways, are presented as evidence of Para Sailing’s current momentum and its capacity for global growth.

A competition model aligned with Paralympic technical standards

The classification system used in Oman assesses the functional impact of an athlete’s impairment on sailing performance, assigning scores that determine crew composition and ensure equitable racing conditions. This process, overseen by medical and technical classifiers, aligns with IPC requirements for international-level Para sport.

The championship features more than 150 athletes across Para, Inclusive, Intellectual Impairment and Visual Impairment categories, acting as the flagship expression of World Sailing’s Para Inclusive Strategy. The federation confirmed that participation levels and competitive outcomes from this event will contribute to its reinstatement bid presented for future Paralympic cycles.

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Both athletes, whose careers have been shaped by determination and technical innovation, share the same mission: to prove that high-level sailing can be truly inclusive. The stories of Turner and Pich go beyond sport; they advocate for breaking barriers and proving that physical limitations are not boundaries on the sea.

A new goal: sailing around the world

Jazz Turner, a 26-year-old from the United Kingdom, has been nominated for the Rolex World Sailor of the Year (Female) after becoming the first woman using a wheelchair to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the British Isles. Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic condition affecting connective tissue, she completed her four-week voyage while raising £45,000 for a charity supporting people with disabilities.

Turner’s achievement was made possible thanks to a sophisticated adaptive navigation system installed on her yacht, allowing her to manage every manoeuvre on her own throughout the ocean route. As she explained upon arrival, “I wanted to show that physical limits don’t define what someone can achieve at sea.”
Before taking on this record-breaking challenge, Turner had already represented Great Britain in the RS Venture Connect class, earning silver at the 2023 World Championship, bronze in 2024, and winning the Swiss Cup that same year.

Her personal story adds exceptional depth to her sporting journey. Growing up in an abusive household, she experienced homelessness and lived in a van after leaving home at 18, until she found refuge and her “chosen family” at the Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club, where mentors gave her the support she needed to rebuild her life. For her 2025 circumnavigation, Turner received technical backing from North Sails, who adapted her sail design to make solo handling possible. Looking ahead to the WorldStar Race 2026, she now aims to become the first woman with a disability to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world.

Dani Pich and Yes We Sail: charting new courses in inclusive sailing

Catalan sailor Dani Anglada Pich, who lost his sight at 31 following a workplace accident on a merchant vessel, has been nominated alongside his initiative Yes We Sail for the Team of the Year award. His project promotes accessibility in sailing for people with visual and sensory disabilities, with the broader goal of contributing to the sport’s return to the Paralympic Games in Brisbane 2032.

Pich became the first blind sailor to complete a solo, unassisted circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, sailing aboard a Patí Català — a traditional catamaran with no rudder, keel, or boom. Using a haptic vest that translated course and wind information into vibrations, he achieved an unprecedented milestone in the history of adaptive sailing.

His project Yes We Sail competes for international recognition alongside elite teams such as Emirates Team New Zealand, Headcase Offshore Racing Team (Ireland), and the French Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team. Beyond his athletic success, Pich has helped spark a broader conversation about the cultural and structural barriers still hindering full inclusion in sailing. As he told Spanish media, “Our nautical culture still has a long way to go, but the sea teaches us every day that we can all move forward in the same direction.”

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In recent years, the number of active federations and participants in inclusive regattas has risen significantly, supported by improved technical training and structural development. These advances directly align with the criteria set by the International Paralympic Committee -IPC-, which requires a broad, sustainable, and globally representative base before reinstating Para Sailing to the Paralympic programme.

Figures that reflect Para Sailing’s growth

Official data from World Sailing confirms this upward trend. Over the past five years, the number of nations competing in international Para Sailing events has increased by 30 percent, showing consistent progress across all five continents. Youth participation has also grown, from 16 to 19 percent, strengthening the long-term sustainability of the discipline. In parallel, new development structures have been launched in Africa and Oceania, reinforcing the sport’s truly global character.

Progress in gender equality has also been significant: female participation in Para Sailing events has risen from 23 to 27 percent, a step forward that consolidates the federation’s inclusive strategy. According to the Para Inclusive Strategy 2024–2029, World Sailing aims to reach 40 nations active in Para and Inclusive Sailing across five continents by 2029. The Para Sailing Committee’s 2025 work plan also sets a clear path to expand from 32 to 40 active nations within that same timeframe.

Europe’s example and regional expansion

Europe has become a key reference point in this process. The recent EUROSAF Inclusive European Championships held in Trieste brought together mixed crews from multiple countries in an innovative format that strengthened cooperation among national federations. Supported by World Sailing, this continental model is expected to inspire similar regional editions in the Americas, Asia, and Africa, all aligned with the federation’s global development objectives.

World Sailing President Quanhai Li emphasised that “inclusion is not only a sporting value but also a tool for growth and sustainability in the future of sailing.” Meanwhile, World Sailing CEO David Graham highlighted that “the growth of the Para Sailing movement demonstrates the strength of the federations and their collective commitment to building a more accessible and competitive sport worldwide.”

Ready to return to the Paralympic stage

The progress achieved in recent years places Para Sailing in a strong position for its potential return to the Paralympic programme. Quantitative growth, increased female and youth participation, and the consolidation of an international competition circuit all point to a mature and representative structure. With more than 40 countries currently engaged in active programmes and an expanding network of coaches and classifiers, the discipline already meets the governance, participation, and diversity standards required by the IPC for reinstatement.

The next three months will be decisive. With the World Sailing Annual Conference, the World Sailing Inclusion Championships to be held in Oman from 3 to 8 December 2025, and the upcoming submissions to the IPC —including the Classification Rules and Research Report (30 November) and the final proposal (15 December)—, inclusive sailing is entering a pivotal stage. “Every programme, every participation figure and every new nation reflects the maturity of a sport that is ready to return to the Paralympic stage,” said David Graham.

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The new Classification Code of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in force since January this year, seeks to standardize and harmonize classification systems across the Paralympic Movement. World Sailing has placed compliance at the center of its para and inclusion strategy. In practice, para sailing has strengthened three fronts: full regulatory alignment with the IPC Code, data systems that allow for the traceability of assessments, and a better-trained international network of classifiers.

In competitions such as the Inclusion Championships, teams competing for prizes in the ‘Para’ category must meet the minimum disability classification established.

Inclusive Development Programme

The Inclusive Development Program (IDP) has established itself as a platform for growth, with subsidized clinics, coach training, support for emerging countries, and the removal of barriers to competing internationally. Its focus is clear: “Sailing for all, without limits,” with equal opportunities for athletes with and without disabilities. Currently, more than 30 countries are actively participating in this development ecosystem.

The impact of the program is also reflected in the design of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, with five classes that combine different functional profiles and needs: from the RS Venture Connect in doubles to sailing for the blind in RS21, to ILCA 6 for athletes with intellectual disabilities. This shows that inclusion has become the cornerstone of the competition.

Brisbane 2032 goal

The Para Inclusive Strategy 2024–2029 sets specific goals: to maintain alignment with the IPC Code, strengthen governance standards, establish a calendar of inclusive events, and expand the international presence of the discipline. This roadmap also includes the integration of inclusive classes in the upcoming World Sailing Championships and the reintroduction of the discipline in the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games.

In the short term, the World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Oman will set a new benchmark with more than 200 sailors expected to participate, showcasing a model that combines sporting spectacle, rigorous classification, and real access for all profiles.

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The IPC requires verifiable data in areas such as classification, anti-doping education, international participation, and governance. It also requires that events be inclusive and meet international standards, that there be clear structures for athlete development, and that national federations have mechanisms in place to participate in the process.

Inclusive strategy and structural development

The Para Inclusive Strategy, launched in 2024, establishes lines of work focused on expanded access, integrated programming, equitable governance, and a global approach to classification. In parallel, projects such as the Inclusive Development Program, the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, and the development of adapted resources for member federations and classes have been implemented.

These actions have focused on creating an operating system composed of tools, procedures, and structures designed to meet IPC requirements. The next stage of the process is based on providing data to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.

Within the Paralympic ecosystem

The sailing competition format allows for the joint participation of people with different types of disabilities, such as physical, visual, or intellectual limitations. In addition, competitions are held in mixed and open events, without distinction by sex or age. The events take place in natural environments and have technical regulations adapted to different functional needs.

The sport includes different entry and progression pathways for athletes, with structures that allow for continuity over time. The readmission proposal takes these factors into account as part of its adaptation to the Paralympic program.

Collaboration of multiple actors

Compliance with the required criteria requires the collaboration of multiple actors within the sailing ecosystem. National federations, international classes, coaches, and athletes are involved in organizing activities, opening events to sailors with disabilities, and implementing specialized training.

Monitoring participation, technical documentation, classification processes, and educational actions are among the elements that the IPC will take into account when evaluating the application. These tasks must be carried out in a planned and documented manner over the coming months.

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For decades, classes such as 2.4mR, Hansa and Sonar have been examples of what inclusive sailing is all about. Long before this topic was in the spotlight, these classes were already welcoming everyone to the starting line. This moment is not about seeking recognition, but about appreciating the previous work of groups, organizations and teams around the world, and continuing to build together on that foundation.

World Sailing Inclusion Championship

World Sailing is working on the development of the Inclusion Championship, the first federation-led event with an inclusive focus. This milestone represents a clear commitment to inclusion, not just as a principle, but as a priority. It is a bold signal that the direction, values and strategy adopted are the right ones to move towards a more inclusive future.

In parallel, a new campaign is being developed to support collective efforts in the quest to reinstate sailing in the Paralympic Games. This dual approach seeks to strengthen the internal structures of the sailing community and unite sailors around the world around a shared purpose. A detailed plan will be presented soon, inviting everyone to participate and contribute.

Inclusive events around the world

In the last month, the spirit of inclusive sailing has shone in different corners of the world. In France, the 2.4mR class Easter Championships once again demonstrated the strength of inclusive competitions. In the Philippines, the Sailability team achieved an outstanding victory in the Oz Goose International Championship, organized by the Lake Taal Yacht Club.

In Thailand, Sailability Phuket has been active with its SV14 fleet in crystal clear waters, while Sailability Hong Kong kicked off its training season ahead of a busy year. In Belgium, Sailability celebrated the start of its season with its first championship, and in La Rochelle, the Neo495 class competed in its National Cup. Inclusion, as you can see, is reflected in different seas around the world.

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