SAILING HANNAH

It feels like I’ve lived three months in three weeks.

Not long ago, I was standing on the dock in Trieste at Barcolana, surrounded by sailors and that electric energy that only an event of that scale can generate. I wrote then about the power of inclusion and leadership – women, Para and Inclusive athletes, organisers, officials, all pulling together to make sailing stronger, more connected, and undeniably alive. I left Trieste tired but inspired, proud of what we’d achieved and ready for whatever came next.

And then came the next whirlwind.

I jumped on a train straight to Lake Garda for the start of the 2.4mR World Championships, where sailors from 18 nations came together to compete in one integrated fleet – Para and able-bodied athletes racing shoulder to shoulder. It was the purest expression of inclusion in action: one course, one start, one result sheet, and absolutely no qualifiers.

Halfway through the championship, I disappeared for 24 hours – a mad dash from Malcesine to Bonn, Germany, for critical meetings with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Those sessions were intense, focused on the future of Para Sailing within the Paralympic framework. It was heavy, strategic work, the kind of stuff that shapes decades, not days – and then, as quickly as I’d left, I was back on a plane, heading straight back to Garda, fuelled by adrenaline, caffeine, and stubborn determination.

Back on the racecourse, Garda was magic. Light, testing conditions gave way to the kind of “Peler” breeze that makes the lake famous. Watching Megan Pascoe – a Para sailor, a friend, and one of the most skilled tactical competitors I know take second overall in the open fleet was the highlight of the week. It wasn’t about labels or separation; it was about performance. She earned that podium through sheer grit, focus, and belief. That’s what inclusion looks like when it’s done right – equality through excellence.

Then came Sardinia and a total shift of pace. From keelboats on Garda to foils in Cagliari, we launched the Wingfoil Inclusive Development Programme (IDP) within the Sardinia Sailing Cup. It couldn’t have been more different — turquoise water, wind whipping across the bay, and athletes flying above the surface in a sport that’s redefining what’s possible.

Our group — Guillaume (FRA), Gaël (FRA), Adam (GBR), Tobias (GER), Andrea (ITA) and Alessandro (ITA) — were nothing short of incredible. Determined, patient, and fearless. The equipment delays were frustrating, yes, but they never let that stop them. We adapted, improvised, and made it work. Massive thanks to Mirco Babini and his outstanding Sardinia Sailing Cup team, whose energy and belief turned a challenging week into a positive moment.

Standing in my coach boat in Cagliari, watching those first foils lift cleanly into flight, I couldn’t help but think back to Barcolana, to Bonn, to Garda. Different moments, same heartbeat. Determination, collaboration, and an unshakable belief that sailing, all of sailing can and should be for everyone.

Seated Wingfoiling and Kiting aren’t just new disciplines – they’re new frontiers. Fast, visual, and inherently inclusive, they open the door to athletes who never imagined they’d have a place in this sport. With the right development, the right partners, and the same relentless energy, they will become a defining part of Para Inclusive Sailing’s future.

Now, I’m home – for three brief days. My dogs are thrilled. My washing machine… less so. But I’m proud. And yes, exhausted – but the kind of exhaustion that comes from knowing the fight is worth it. Every meeting, every race, every flight delay and sleepless night, they all matter. Because this movement doesn’t build itself.

“It’s not about getting everything right. It’s about showing up, learning, and keeping the momentum going – because inclusion isn’t a destination, it’s a direction.”

From Barcolana’s chaos, to Bonn’s boardrooms, to Garda’s racecourse, and Sardinia’s foiling beaches, the past few weeks have been relentless – but they’ve also been proof that progress is happening. Inch by inch, wave by wave, we’re building a future where every sailor, regardless of ability, has a place on the start line.

Three days to rest. Then back on the road. Because the mission doesn’t stop – and neither will I.