GBR Blind Sailing at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships

The World Sailing Inclusion Championships marked a major milestone for GBR Blind Sailing and Blind Sailing UK. This was far more than a regatta — it was the culmination of a year-long journey involving sailors, coaches and volunteers working together to compete on the world stage.

How the Journey Began

The campaign began in November 2024 with a national selection process for sailors interested in keelboat league racing. For many — both blind and sighted — this was their first experience of keelboat racing.

Training throughout early 2025 focused on learning the fundamentals, understanding roles on board and adapting to the pace of league racing. As the programme developed, sailors learned an essential racing principle: this was not about winning every race, but about consistency.

Keeping average results low, sailing smoothly and avoiding big mistakes became the focus. With long days on the water and repeated races, keelboat league racing demanded physical endurance, mental resilience and strong teamwork.

The selection process was the toughest Blind Sailing UK has seen to date. Everyone who took part worked incredibly hard and raised the overall standard, creating a strong foundation for the future of blind keelboat and league racing in the UK.

Arrival in Oman

On arrival in Oman, it was fantastic to reconnect with familiar faces from the international sailing community and to meet new and developing nations, many of whom are keen to grow blind sailing in their own countries. The sense of shared purpose across the fleet was clear from the outset.

World Sailing iDP Training and the FarEast 28R

The first two days were dedicated to World Sailing iDP training. Time ashore was spent reviewing starts, rules and tactics, but the most valuable element was time on the water in the FarEast 28R.

This class is not currently available in the UK, making the training especially important. The wider hull, movement patterns and power profile required crews to adapt quickly. Learning how the boat powered up and down in different conditions was key — and it wasn’t long before the GBR team fell in love with the class.

We are extremely grateful to the World Sailing coaches for their support, and to Oman Sail for outstanding preparation and for ensuring the boats were ready every day. This training period proved key to our success during racing.

Five Days of Racing

The Championships featured five full days of racing, each following a similar rhythm. Mornings began with a 9am briefing, followed by waiting ashore for the wind.

Each day, the breeze arrived between 12 and 1pm, building steadily through the afternoon. Early races were often light and technical, while later races were sailed in stronger wind, demanding physical effort and precise decision-making.

The sun shone strongly every day, adding to the challenge. Racing continued until sunset, with close competition, red flags flying and on-water turns being completed. Across the week, teams from around the world grew stronger as experience and confidence built. Also a special mention for Kate Heaey B1, and Daniel Sadler, sighted crew on here amazing results over the 5 days in the RS Venture finishing 3rd in the Inclusive division.

GBR Blind Sailing Results

The consistency and preparation of the GBR teams delivered outstanding results in the visually impaired FarEast 28R Fleet:

B2 Classification – Gold Medal / Overall GoldLucy Hodges (Helm), Jamie Tylecote, Liam Cattermole, Steve Tylecote

B3 Classification – Gold Medal / Overall BronzeKarl Haines (Helm), Colin Midgley, Gary Butler, Martin Phillips

B1 Classification – Gold Medal / Fourth Place OverallVicki Sheen (Helm), Ian Shirra, Jonathan Cormack, Toby Davey

These performances secured gold medals across all visually impaired classifications, along with overall Gold and Bronze medals for GBR Blind Sailing.

Thank You and Recognition

Blind Sailing UK is fortunate to have a highly skilled and committed team of coaches and volunteers. This becomes especially clear at international events, where other nations regularly ask how we are able to arrive with such strong support teams. It is a testament to everyone involved.

Our sincere thanks go to Hannah Stodel, Para World Sailing Manager, whose vision and commitment helped make this event — and blind sailing’s presence on this stage — a reality. Thanks also to Stog, Principal Race Officer, who ensured sailors were heard, supported and listened to throughout the event.

Looking Ahead

While the results are something to celebrate, the true success of this campaign lies in the journey — from selection and training, through long race days, to consistent performance at world-level competition.

Everyone involved has helped raise the standard of blind sailing in the UK. This experience has set a strong benchmark, and we are excited about what comes next.

With Thanks to Our Supporters

This journey would not have been possible without the incredible commitment of our sailors and volunteers across the UK — Blind Sailing UK only exists because of you.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our main sponsor DOOH.com, whose support helped us achieve this success and share our story through powerful words and images. Thank you to Rooster for keeping the sun at bay with their UV kit and ensuring the team looked smart throughout the event.

Our thanks also go to Faster Connect, Inspiration In You, RYA Sailability, ARB Tree and Garden Solutions, and to all those supporters who work behind the scenes — your contribution truly matters.