Some of the participants from the Caribbean at the National Sailing Academy this week
Inaugural Caribbean Para Inclusive Development Programme & Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championships taking place in Antigua
Yesterday marked the closing of the inaugural World Sailing Caribbean Inclusive Development Programme and will be followed today by the first of 3 days of racing in the first ever Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championships.
This initiative aims to position the Caribbean as a hub for para-inclusive sailing development, while simultaneously offering meaningful racing and participation opportunities for sailors, coaches, and programs.
An intense four days brought coaches and sailors together from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Chile, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and the British Virgin Islands along with four coaches from the National Sailing Academy and Antigua Yacht Club.
Along with sailors from the same nations, participants are being led by Head of Para Sailing in World Sailing, Hannah Stoddel, and Lead Coach Dan Jaspers from the United Kingdom and Germany.
Starting today, Antigua is set to host the first-ever Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championship. The three-day regatta, taking place at the National Sailing Academy, will culminate in crowning the first ever Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Champion.
The week-long event underscores Antigua and the region's commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and the development of opportunities within the sport of sailing for individuals of all abilities.
The championship has also been designated the RS Venture Connect Caribbean Championship, highlighting the Academy’s reputation as a leading sailing and development center in the Caribbean and reinforcing its dedication to fostering an inclusive environment for all participants.
The boat being used is the RS Venture Connect. It levels the playing field for all participants by combining a highly stable, self-righting keelboat platform with an innovative, plug-and-play adaptive Seated Control System (SCS). This setup allows sailors with a wide spectrum of physical, intellectual, and sensory impairments to compete equally alongside able-bodied sailors based entirely on tactical knowledge and skill.
This initiative aims to position the Caribbean as a hub for para-inclusive sailing development while simultaneously offering meaningful racing and participation opportunities for sailors, coaches, and programs.
Hannah Stoddel, lead coach for the programme and Head of Parasailing at World Sailing, also expressed her excitement about the event. "Our ultimate vision is to have parasailing recognized as a sport in the Paralympics, and we are making significant strides toward this goal with numerous nations worldwide."
Bob Bailey, founder of Sailability, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event. "I hope that by showcasing their sailing and sporting abilities throughout the week, the sailors from around the region can inspire others in our community to try sailing, whether for independence on the water or at a competitive level. Our immediate goal is to recruit people interested in representing Antigua at the upcoming World Inclusion Championships taking place in Portugal in October."
Visitors are welcome to call in at the National Sailing Academy between Thursday and Sunday to see the on-the-water action and network with the sailors and coaches when back on shore.
