December 16, 2025

Four days of inspiring racing have concluded in Mussanah, Oman – and with them, a landmark moment in the evolution of global inclusive sailing. The inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships came to a close with its prize-giving ceremony on 8th December 2025, proving not only its historic relevance but its overwhelming success as the first event to unite both para-classified athletes and sailors outside the IPC classification code.

With 154 athletes from 37 nations taking part, the championship more than lived up to its promise of setting a new standard for inclusive sailing. The atmosphere at Barceló Mussanah Resort, hosted by Oman Sail, was one of unity, ambition and world-class competition.

Two-Person Keelboat Champions

The Two-Person Keelboat category was sailed in the RS Venture Connect SCS – a boat specifically designed by RS Sailing to deliver high-performance racing with its seated control system allowing full inclusivity.

This hugely popular fleet attracted 30 teams from 18 nations, including Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain, United States of America as well as the home nation, Oman.

The racing was close and tactical in mixed wind conditions. It was Polish team Piotr Cichocki & Olga Gornas-Grudzien from Akademicki Klub Sportowy przy OSW who claimed Gold with 7 bullets out of the 9 races held over the championships. The rest of the podium saw multiple countries fighting for the top spots throughout the 4 days of racing. On the final day it was Spain’s Pau Toni Homar & Ramon Gutierrez from Club de Vela Puerto de Andratx who took Silver and Greece’s Vasilis Christoforou & Thodoris Alexas from Yacht Club of Greece in Bronze.

A Championship That Redefines What Sailing Can Be

Reflecting on the success of the event, Michiel Geerling, Commercial Director at RS Sailing, praised both the racing and the movement behind it:

“Huge congratulations to our 2025 World Champions – and to every athlete who took to the water this week. What we saw in Oman goes far beyond sport: it set a precedent for what truly inclusive sailing can achieve. The talent, teamwork and passion on display showed exactly why this championship matters. RS Sailing is incredibly proud to support a fleet where everyone can compete on equal terms – and where everyone pushes the limits of what’s possible.”

A Collective Effort That Made History

From the tireless volunteers and international officials to World Sailing’s strategic vision and Oman Sail’s hosting, the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships was built on collaboration. It also follows a milestone month for the class, after the RS Venture Connect was formally awarded World Sailing Class status at the World Sailing Conference in Ireland in November.

As first-time nations embraced the opportunity – including India from the RS Venture Connect category – the message was clear: inclusive sailing is expanding, accelerating and uniting communities like never before. Justen Bersin-Taylor, sailing for team GBR, summed it up with a sunset photo and the caption: “We sailed hard. We learned a lot. We came away with a boatload of new friends.”

The bar has been set. The future of para inclusive sailing has never looked brighter.

Article by RS Sailing