Last fall, I traveled to Oman for the World Inclusive Sailing Championships. It was an incredible experience. The inaugural event brought together many of the best adaptive sailors in the world, all competing to be world champion in one of three different classes – the RS venture connect - a two person boat, the Hansa 303 - a one person boat, and the Far East with three visually impaired sailors and three sighted sailors per boat.  Beyond the racing and crowning world champions, the event had a larger mission: to showcase the skill, passion, and level of competition of the international parasailing community, in an effort to get sailing back into the Paralympics after it was dropped following the 2016 Rio Games. Over 100 sailors from 36 different countries competed. 

In addition to enjoying the wonderful warmth of the Omani people, culture, landscape and weather, and mixing it up on the racecourse, my highlight was meeting the other sailors from around the world. In the quiet moments in between racing and exploring, I spoke with three of them to hear their stories.

Guest info:

• @pintobp05

Additional Resources:

• https://www.sailing.org/world-sailing-inclusion-championships/

Contact us: 

• Instagram: @unexpectedjourneypod
• Email: [email protected] 
• Hosted and produced by Tim Brown
• Editing and sound design by Louis Arevalo
• Original theme music by Jesse LaFountaine
• Episode cover art by Lewis Falconer 
• Cover art and logo design by Anne Holt and Lewis Falconer