World Sailing Inclusion Championships – Day 1
The official first races of the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships 2025 kicked off today along the shores of Mussanah, marking the start of a historic global event hosted by the Sultanate of Oman at the Mussanah Sailing School, Barceló Mussanah Resort.
Racing started following a three-day Inclusive Development Programme organised by World Sailing, which served as a key preparatory phase for sailors, coaches, and race officials. The opening day featured intense competition across four internationally recognised classes: One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect), Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6), and Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R).
The opening day of the competition showcased the remarkable skill and competitive spirit of the sailors, with strong performances across every fleet. Early race results set the tone for an exciting championship: In the RS Venture Connect, Team Norway-1, featuring sailors Henriette Smith and Solfrid Lindhjem Kvinnesland took an early lead at the top of the leaderboard. They were followed by Piotr Cichocki and Olga Gornas-Grudzien from Poland-1 in second place, while Team Norway-2, represented by Stian Kristiansen and Elliot Finnestrand, secured third in a promising start to their campaign.
In the Hansa 303, British sailor Rory McKinna delivered a standout performance to claim first place, with Takumi Niwa from Japan finishing close behind in second. Portuguese sailor Joao Pinto secured third after a steady and consistent showing throughout the day.
The ILCA 6 category saw Murray MacDonald of Great Britain dominate the fleet to finish first, while Man Hong Leung from Hong Kong, China took second, and teammate Tsz Hin Heung completed the podium in third.
Meanwhile, in the FarEast 28R it was an all-British top three. Lucy Hodges leads from Karl Haines in second and Vicki Sheen in third after a series of tightly contested races.
After the conclusion of the races, Portuguese sailor João Pinto expressed his admiration for the championship’s exceptional conditions, noting that the event offers an ideal environment for high-level competition. He said: “The conditions in Mussanah are excellent, and the organisation is being carried out to the highest standards. The varied sea conditions create a positive challenge for sailors and help level the playing field while unifying participation standards — a clear reflection of the championship’s vision to promote inclusivity and integrate athletes with disabilities into the sport.”
Pinto also praised the facilities and services provided to the sailors, adding: “All facilities are thoughtfully equipped to meet the needs of athletes with disabilities, and everything is arranged professionally with full consideration for accessibility and competition requirements. The efforts behind the scenes are evident, and the organisation is exactly what a world-class championship of this scale demands.”
Regarding his ambitions for the upcoming races, he said: “Every sailor strives to reach the podium, and that’s what makes the competition intense and challenging. I will give everything I have to achieve a strong result, but ultimately, performance on the water is what matters most. We hope the coming days bring positive results for everyone.”
