The inaugural Under 25 Para Sailing World Championship was announced earlier this year, as part of World Sailing’s commitment to increase participation and inclusivity throughout the sport. The inaugural event will now take place just before the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championship from 10-20 August, hosted by one of the most active clubs in the Netherlands, WV Braassemermeer. The club is proud to have a super active group of volunteers who run activities from youth training to high performance race coaching and sailing development programs. They have delivered multiple Paralympic and Olympic sailing heroes within the Netherlands. WV Braassemermeer are working hard to provide the best experience for competing nations who will come together. In addition to this important Para Sailing competition, World Sailing will coordinate a Para Sailing Development Program (PDP) coaching clinic for sailors and coaches seeking the opportunity to learn more about boat handling, racing skills, rules and regatta management.
The Para Programs and their sailors to benefit from additional training and preparation time in the RS Venture Connect sailboat class. Charter boats will be available in the Netherlands for teams to make use of ahead of the U25 Para Sailing World Championship, with a program of activity facilitated by a dedicated RS Venture Connect Class coach at the WV Braassemermeer venue.
RS Sailing, World Sailing and VW Braassemermeer will work in partnership to ensure that the 2023 Para Sailing World Championship offers the best experience possible for all those attending, be that athletes, their coaches and/or carers and also team supporters. The venue is located adjacent to a beautiful open lake with consistent wind. This makes the WV Braassemermeer suitable for racing activity that can be watched from the club or surrounding lakeside.
David Graham, World Sailing CEO, highlighted the importance of the U25 Para Sailing World Championship as a driving force behind the global growth and development of the sport.
“World Sailing is fully committed to driving the growth and development of Para Sailing and the U25 Para Sailing World Championship is an exciting step forward. As part of our growth strategy, we will raise the number of people under 30 who take part in Para Sailing to 20% of our total athletes, as well as grow the number of female sailors. This event, which is targeted at under 25s and with a 50:50 gender split, will help us to achieve these goals. If we are successful in our reinstatement bid for LA28, the sailors competing here may well be the Paralympic stars on the water in Los Angeles and beyond and we look forward to following them in action”
We are delighted that the RS Venture Connect is the class of equipment selected for the U25 Para Sailing World Championships and we remain committed to the World Sailing #backthebid campaign as part of the bid to see sailing reinstated at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. We look forward to working with the WV Braassemermeer team during what promises to be a memorable event.
Share this!