Sailors, coaches and programme leaders from 10 countries gathered at Antigua’s National Sailing Academy for a week of training, collaboration and inclusive competition.
The first Caribbean Inclusive Development Programme brought together sailors, coaches and programme leaders from across the region at the National Sailing Academy in Antigua for a week dedicated to learning, collaboration and expanding access to sailing.
Held from June 21–27, the programme combined four days of intensive training and development with the inaugural Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championship, staged from June 24–27 in RS Venture Connect boats.
While the championship delivered competitive racing, the larger story was the community, knowledge and long-term regional network created through the programme.
A total of 23 sailors, coaches and programme leaders participated, representing 10 countries across the Caribbean and South America. Participating nations included Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Chile, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the British Virgin Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Throughout the week, participants shared knowledge, strengthened coaching skills and explored ways to create more opportunities for para and inclusive sailing across the region.
Sailing on Equal Terms
At the centre of the programme was the RS Venture Connect, a keelboat designed specifically for inclusive sailing and racing.
The stable, self-righting boat can be equipped with an innovative Seated Control System, allowing sailors with a wide range of physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities to compete alongside able-bodied sailors. Racing success depends on tactical decision-making, communication, teamwork and sailing ability.
The programme was led by Hannah Stodel, Para World Sailing Manager at World Sailing, who worked with coaches from throughout the Caribbean to strengthen their confidence and technical capabilities while helping them develop sustainable programmes that can continue beyond the event.
“It is more than a programme,” Stodel said. “It is more than coaching sessions, boats, briefings, workshops and long days on the water. It is a space where people come together, support each other, learn from each other and leave stronger than when they arrived.
“That is the real power of the IDP.”
Each session on the water was supported by discussions ashore, shared experiences and opportunities for participants to learn from one another. Coaches exchanged ideas, sailors developed greater skill and independence, and volunteers and organisers helped create an environment in which everyone could participate.
“Everyone has a part to play,” Stodel said. “That support matters. It creates confidence. It creates belonging. It creates opportunity.”
Developing a Regional Network
The Inclusive Development Programme was originally created by RS Venture Connect International Class Manager Dan Jaspers, with the goal of expanding para sailing through education, mentorship and community-building.
Stodel has since helped shape and expand the initiative internationally, creating further opportunities for sailors, coaches and sailing organisations.
Following the championship, she reflected on what the gathering in Antigua had accomplished.
“We brought 23 people from 10 countries together through para and inclusive sailing,” she said. “That alone is something to be proud of. But what made it powerful was the spirit of the group: the community, the support, the laughter, the learning and the constant reminder that, in para sailing, the possibilities really are limitless.”
The National Sailing Academy has long played a leading role in sailing development in Antigua and the wider Caribbean. Hosting the region’s first Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championship further demonstrated its commitment to making sailing available to people of different backgrounds and abilities.
Bob Bailey, founder of Sailability Antigua, said the new programme represented an important expansion beyond recreational sailing.
“Our Sailability programme has served our community for over 11 years,” Bailey said. “This new programme focuses on allowing people with physical disabilities to access and participate in competitive sailing.”
Bailey hopes the initiative will encourage more people to discover sailing, whether as a source of recreation and independence or as a pathway into high-performance competition. The long-term ambition is to see an Antigua and Barbuda team represented in Paralympic sailing should the sport return to the Paralympic Games.
Alex Newton-Southon, managing director of RS Sailing, said the RS Venture Connect provides more than an accessible sailing platform.
“The boat enables programmes like the IDP to focus on what truly matters: developing sailors, empowering coaches and building inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” he said.
The Caribbean Inclusive Development Programme concluded with championship racing, but its most important result may be the network left behind. Coaches returned home with new knowledge, sailors gained confidence and independence, and participating organisations established new connections across the region.
The impact of one week in Antigua may therefore extend far beyond the championship, creating new pathways for inclusive sailing throughout the Caribbean for years to come.
