Day two of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships on 6 October showcased personal milestones and competitive racing as athletes from both established and first-time nations made their presence felt in Portugal.
Among the standout competitors was Australia’s Simon Bibby, who participated in the inaugural Inclusive Wingfoil event. Following a spinal cord injury in 2020, Bibby found his way back to the water through Sailability and the Hansa 303 class, eventually reaching the World Championships in Pittwater. However, his quest for speed led him to seated wing foiling, inspired by French rider Guillaume Colin.
Months of training at the first Australian Para Wing Foiling camp allowed him to delve into a discipline still evolving with adaptive equipment. Bibby expressed that the sensation of flying is exhilarating, stating, “It is just crazy fun. I’m hooked.”
Bibby now competes alongside his idol Colin, who has emerged as a frontrunner in the Inclusive Wingfoil demonstration event, winning three out of four races on the day. Great Britain’s Charlie Wolf currently leads the event overall.
New nations also made their mark. Vietnam’s Tran Qoc Phung, competing in the Inclusive Two Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), expressed his joy at racing internationally. Similarly, Barbados’ Daniel McCollin is eager to learn and perform well in his first major event.
A highlight of the day was Trinidad and Tobago’s Ivan Stollmeyer, who celebrated his 12th birthday while competing in the Para Intellectual Impairment (ILCA 6) event, marking his first international competition.
As the races progressed, Finland dominated the Para Inclusive One Person Technical Keelboat (2.4mR) standings with Marko Dahlberg leading the fleet, followed by Niko Salomaa and Rikard Bjurström. Meanwhile, Portugal’s Rodrigo Pereira excelled in the Inclusive Cognitive Impairment (ILCA 6) fleet.
The day also witnessed Great Britain’s Lucy Hodges and her team maintaining an unbeaten streak in the Vision Impairment event. James Coxon, another British sailor, rebounded from an earlier penalty to lead in the Para Inclusive Multihull (Challenger).
Excitement continues to build in the Championships as tight standings emerge across all fleets, with new disciplines like Inclusive Wingfoil promising future growth in the sport. Bibby hopes that this event will pave the way for greater opportunities in sailing, remarking, “Let’s get Brisbane happening. Brisbane ’32.”
The 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal, runs until 10 October and is supported by Vela Solidária, the Municipality of Portimão, and the Portuguese Sailing Federation.
Read more about the World Sailing Inclusion Championships here.
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