A record 222 athletes from 40 nations begin racing in Portugal on Monday, October 5th, at the 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão. The six-day championship runs until Saturday, October 10, with medals to be decided across nine events in the competition's second edition.
The final entry exceeds the 200-plus sailors reported by Afloat when entries closed in September, confirming a record turnout.
Second Edition Builds on Oman Debut
The championships follow the inaugural event in Oman in 2025 and form part of World Sailing's wider Para Inclusive programme. The competition brings together Para-classified and inclusive sailors across a range of boats and disciplines, including Hansa 303s, RS Venture Connects, 2.4mRs and visually impaired keelboat racing.
Among those competing is Thailand's Tanat Upatising, who began sailing in 2021 and normally races an SV14 at home. Portimão will be his first Inclusion Championships and his first time racing the RS Venture Connect two-person keelboat.
"It's our first time in this boat, so it's really exciting and challenging," Upatising said.
He took part in the three-day Inclusive Development Programme ahead of the championship and said he hoped to bring what he had learned back to Thailand. "There are a lot of things I want to take back home, but we have to start somewhere," he said.
Record turnout: The 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão have attracted 222 athletes from 40 nations, with medals to be decided across nine events over six days of racing. Photo: Gonçalo Melo
Jamaica Sailor Makes Championship Debut
Jamaica's Andre Daley is another newcomer to the championship and only began sailing in June following a scuba-diving accident in 2025. He was introduced to the sport through World Sailing's Inclusive Development Programme in Antigua.
"That was my first time sailing. I learned how to sail, learned the parts of the boat, and learned a lot. I'm still learning this week as well," Daley said. "When I'm out on the water, I feel free. It's amazing. I'd love for more people to come and try."
Paralympic Return Remains Target
The championships also form part of World Sailing's campaign to return sailing to the Paralympic Games at Brisbane 2032. Sailing was last included in the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016.
World Sailing President Quanhai Li told Sunday's opening ceremony in Portimão that the championships were intended to provide an elite international racing platform for sailors across a range of physical abilities.
"Every start, tactical manoeuvre and finish line crossed proves that Para Inclusive Sailing is high-performance, vibrant, and expanding across the globe," Li said.
