June 17, 2024
3 minutes reading time
Sailing: A Unique Sport by Adam Billany
Sailing is a unique sport that provides the opportunity for inclusion and a sense of freedom that other sports simply cannot match, says Adam Billany. The 23-year-old took part in the 2023 Allianz World Sailing Championships in the Hague where para events made their debut and is now looking to build on the experience.
As a sailor with a disability, when I get into a boat, I am automatically put on a level playing field with everyone else. The boat is the leveller, and I can forget the limitations of my disability whilst out on the water. It is the skill of the sailor that decides the result, not any physical limitations one may have.
Every sailor should get the recognition they deserve for their ability as a sailor from an equal perspective, whether they sail a traditionally viewed “para” class of boat or an Olympic class boat.
Para sailing itself is not fully inclusive with many disabilities not eligible for classification. This excludes sailors from competing in events and being included in the rankings. My sailing partner, Jazz Turner, is affected by this and unfairly not able to be officially ranked beside me in the rankings. Without her, I wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful last year.
These reasons are why true inclusion within our sport is so powerful and important both on and off the water. Inclusion creates a community that supports each other as we look to grow the sport and alongside Jazz, I am passionate to inspire and grow our sport by getting more people into sailing and show that disability isn’t a barrier to success in this sport.
Inclusion within sailing has also been a huge part of my sailing journey. Learning to sail in the North of England there were no sailability fleets to race with regularly. The only sailability boat I had access to was an old Hansa 203 before I was eventually introduced to the 2.4mR class. I would (and still do) race these boats every week in the club racing at Derwent Reservoir, the northeast youth traveller series and in the regatta week at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club.
In each case, my successes were recognised and celebrated on an equal standing with my peers. None more so than when I won the pursuit race (against top sailors from several classes) at “Bass” week which I think others celebrated more than myself!
Despite inclusion in our sport being nothing new, we still need to progress to inclusivity being promoted and regularly seen at major competitions. This is something I know is done well in the 2.4mR and is something I had the pleasure of participating in last year at the RS Venture Connect Inclusion World Championships.
Jazz and I competed on a level playing field against an open fleet of para, inclusive and mixed crews finishing 2nd. Last year, I also had the honour of competing in the SailGP onesport race, the truest inclusivity I have experienced to date with 10 inclusive sailors sailing with 10 SailGP sailors.
It is more events like this that are required to fully push the sport towards complete inclusion which could eventually include sailors with disabilities competing in SailGP and the America’s Cup.
Whilst we still may be some way off this happening, by all joining forces to race and learn together we can move forward to make this dream a reality.