Inclusive sailing
Inclusion Championships 2026: Great Britain Wins the Nations Trophy
Published · Last checked October 2026
Great Britain won the Nations Trophy at the second World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal (5 to 10 October 2026). 222 athletes from 40 nations raced in classes for physical, vision and intellectual impairment, plus a seated wingfoil demonstration event.
Champions by class
| Event (boat) | Champion |
|---|---|
| Para Inclusive One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303) | Piotr Cichocki (POL) |
| Inclusive Two Person Keelboat (Hansa 303) | Piotr Cichocki and Joanna Cichocka (POL) |
| Para Inclusive Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect) | Fia Fjelddahl and Patric Rosenberg (SWE) |
| Para Inclusive One Person Multihull (Challenger) | James Coxon (GBR) |
| Vision Impairment (RS21) | Lucy Hodges, Jamie Tylecote, Liam Cattermole and Steve Tylecote (GBR) |
| One Person Technical Keelboat (2.4mR) | Marko Dahlberg (FIN) |
| Para Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6) | Tsz Hin Cheung (HKG) |
| Inclusive Cognitive Impairment | José Campos (POR) |
| Seated Wingfoil (demonstration) | Charlie Wolf (GBR) |
British sailors swept the Challenger multihull podium (James Coxon, Val Millward, Bex Foulsham). Light winds cancelled the final day of wingfoil racing, so the overnight leaders kept their places.
In their words
"I've had the best week of my life," said Sweden's Fia Fjelddahl. World Sailing CEO David Graham said the event was testing new disciplines and called it "a phenomenal week". Lucy Hodges said the ultimate goal was to get more countries involved.
Sailing is one of the most adaptable sports there is. RYA Sailability clubs across the UK offer inclusive sessions, and most don't need you to have any experience.
Why inclusive sailing matters
Sailing is one of the few sports where people with and without disabilities can compete on equal terms in the same boat. Adapted seating, joystick or servo steering, and stable keelboats such as the Hansa 303 and the 2.4mR mean sailors with a wide range of physical, sensory and intellectual impairments can helm and race. Para sailing left the Paralympic programme after 2016, and events like these championships keep international competition going while World Sailing works for its return.
The boats
| Boat | What makes it accessible |
|---|---|
| Hansa 303 | Stable two-person keelboat with seated sailing position; sail-able single-handed |
| 2.4mR | Small single-person keelboat sailed seated, with controls led to the helm |
| RS Venture Connect | Adaptable keelboat with options for wheelchair transfer and servo-assisted steering |
| RS21 | Sportsboat raced here by vision-impaired crews with sighted guides |
| Challenger | Stable single-person trimaran |
How to try inclusive sailing in the UK
The RYA Sailability programme has more than 200 groups and clubs across the UK offering inclusive sailing, often with adapted boats, hoists and trained volunteers. You don't need any experience. Many groups also welcome volunteers, which is a great way to build your own boat handling and rope skills.