Britain’s Megan Pascoe wins back World Sailing 2.4mR European Championship title

Great Britain’s Megan Pascoe is the new World Sailing 2.4mR European Champion after battling it out 15-20 May in Baie de Quiberon, Brittany (France) against an all-star line-up.

The 36-year-old, originally from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex and now based on Isle of Portland in Dorset, is classified as a World Sailing Para Sailing athlete with cerebral palsy.

She fought off a field of 44 athletes, featuring 28 able-bodied Olympic, world and national champions and four Paralympians in this Inclusive Open regatta.

“I’m very happy to get my title back!” said Pascoe, who was European Champion in 2014 and 2016. “It’s been a tough competition, especially up against the likes of Damien [Seguin] and Heiko [Kröger] and sailors with incredible CVs. We need sailing back in the Paralympics – it’s an amazing pinnacle of our sport,” said Pascoe.

The Championship, now in its 11th year, attracted a total of 16 athletes registered as World Sailing Para Sailors – with the athletes challenged over five days in winds up to 20 knots in this complex one-person keelboat class, which focuses on sophisticated sail trim, tactics and strategy.

“We’re now just 45 days before we submit our application with the International Paralympic Committee to reinstate sailing into the Paralympic Games,” said David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, addressing the media at the start of the race.

“Seeing so many Para Sailors on the start-line of this Championship is both sensational and inspirational.

“Sailing has the power to bring together highly competitive athletes with wide-ranging physical and sensory abilities and clearly is a prominent platform in global sport.”

Paralympic ‘Who’s Who’

Pascoe put a total of four Paralympic athletes through their paces to win her coveted European Champion title.

Damien Seguin, France’s triple Paralympic medallist, five-time 2.4mR World Champion – who last year became the first Para Sailor to compete in the round-the-world, solo, non-stop yacht race The Vendée Globe – finished behind Pascoe in second place.

“I was two points behind Megan, not bad considering I haven’t competed in the 2.4mR for three years,” said Seguin.

“It’s been great to compete on home soil, here in Quiberon, and in this Open Championship – with Para Sailors, able-bodied, old and young sailors all together: this is inclusion at its best!”

Seguin went on to thank the volunteers:

“Volunteers make events like this Championship happen – thank you to everyone who has helped me personally during the last five days and the tireless efforts of everyone at this Championship.

“Now it’s back to the IMOCA to train for upcoming competitions.”

Germany’s Heiko Kröger, 10-time World Champion, 2.4mR Class President, with gold and silver medals from the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Paralympic Games, and member of World Sailing Athletes’ Commission, finished third, with Italy’s three-time Paralympic sailor Antonio Squizzato in fourth.

#BacktheBid – Sailing at LA28 Paralympic Games

World Sailing launched its reinstatement bid for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games last October in response to growing calls from athletes around the world.

At the same time, the global governing body for sailing launched the ‘Back the Bid’ #SailtoLA campaign, supported by renowned international sailors, leading figures in the sport and the world’s Para Sailors.

World Sailing has outlined its strategic priorities to support the growth of the sport by 2023:

• Increase worldwide participation to 45 nations on 6 continents
• Increase youth participation (below the age of 30) to 20% of total athletes
• Grow the number of female participants to 30% and, ultimately, to achieve gender parity

World Sailing 2.4mR European Championship 2022

See full results here and event information here.