Para Inclusive Sailing took a significant step forward in the Caribbean last week, with the inaugural Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championships and World Sailing's Inclusive Development Programme both held at the National Sailing Academy in Antigua, delivered in partnership with Sailability Antigua.
Athletes, coaches and emerging leaders travelled from nine nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Chile. The breadth of that turnout reflects how quickly interest in Para Inclusive Sailing is spreading through the region.
The programme covered athlete pathways, classification, event opportunities, inclusive coaching methodology, equipment and adaptations, and funding support. A clear thread running through it all was helping sailors and national programmes understand what it takes to build something sustainable at home, with many participants already targeting the 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal.
One standout moment came during a dedicated evening session with the International Hansa Class Association. The Hansa Class offered refurbished boats free of charge to countries looking to build or expand local programmes, an offer that could meaningfully lower barriers to entry across the region.
Both the IDP and the Championships were run entirely on RS Venture Connect boats, providing a consistent platform for athletes across a wide range of impairment groups and experience levels to train and compete together.
The coaching team was led by Dan Jaspers and supported by Apprentice Coach Logan Bell. The National Sailing Academy and Sailability Antigua teams, alongside local volunteers, kept everything running behind the scenes, while Aethic Skincare provided practical support to participants through a partnership with the IDP.
Despite some early logistical challenges, the week built real momentum. The Championships drew competitors across Physical Impairment, Vision Impairment and Central Impairment groups, and several mixed-nationality teams raced together, giving the results a distinctly collaborative character.
Jamaica and BVI claimed first place, Grenada finished second, and Chile and Barbados secured third. The mixed podium reflected something larger than race results, pointing to what becomes possible when nations pool resources and sailors back each other across borders.
The community that formed over the week looks like the foundation of something lasting. With participants from across the Caribbean now pointing toward WSIC 2026, the work done in Antigua is already shaping what comes next for Para Inclusive Sailing in the region.
