World Sailing Inclusion Championships at Mussanah, Oman - Day 1
by World Sailing 5 Dec 2025 22:00 AEDT
30 November - 8 December 2025
World Sailing Inclusion Championships at Mussanah, Oman Day 1 © World Sailing
The first races were contested at the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships 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.
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 Two Person Keelboat (RS Venture Connect) class, 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 One Person Keelboat (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 Intellectual Impairment (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 Visually Impaired (FarEast 28R) division 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.
American sailor Dylan Young, representing Seattle, Washington, and competing in the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), praised the championship, describing it as "a world-class event in every sense." He commended the exceptional organisation, professional atmosphere, and the high-quality services provided to athletes.
"The facilities are remarkably accessible and well-prepared, making the experience smooth and comfortable from the moment we arrived," he added.
The races commenced following a three-day Inclusive Development Programme organised by World Sailing, which served as a key preparatory phase for sailors, coaches, and race officials.
Read more about the World Sailing Inclusion Championships here.