High winds, fierce competition and inclusive comradery at the RS Venture Connect Worlds 2024
by Bex Foot, RS Sailing 12 Oct 08:16 NZDT
30 September - 3 October 2024
Strong winds, biting rain and literal whirlwinds of fun! The 2024 RS Venture Connect World Championship may have encountered challenging weather conditions at Rutland Sailing Club 30th September to 3rd October, but the competitors' community spirit was never dampened.
The results were close throughout the whole competition, with the leaderboard changing dramatically on a day-to-day basis. Defending Champions of the Para Category, FRA Ange Margaron and Olivier Ducruix, claimed victory for the second year in a row. "It's so marvellous, it's magic," Olivier expressed to World Sailing as they collected their medals.
GBR's Rory McKinna and Wu Chi Chian, took Silver, having teamed up especially for the event. "Although we have sailed against each other for many years, last month was our first time sailing together," explained Rory. "I'm glad to say that we get along as well in a boat as we do on dry land."
POR's Pedro Câncio Reis and Guilherme Ribeiro, took Bronze; adding to their RS Venture Connect World titles, having also received Bronze in 2022 and Silver in the Open Two Person Technical at the Allianz Sailing World Championships 2023.
The event also featured the Inclusive Category, increasing opportunities for participation by disabled sailors whose disability does not meet the World Sailing Minimal Disability Para Classification criteria.
New pairing, Norwegian Team, Elliot Finnestrand and Nilas Goa Diab, took Gold in Inclusion. "It's amazing, we never expected this," said Nilas. "We started to sail together not too long ago. We saw this as an opportunity to learn. We never thought it would be enough for a win. It's just surreal, really."
Elliot added in the World Sailing interview: "It's been a blast, the whole week. A lot of wind. we couldn't ask for better conditions for us two."
Defending 2023 Inclusion Champions, AUS' Genevieve Wickham & Grant Alderson, placed second and GBR team, Adam Billany and Jazz Turner, came third. "This was and was always going to be the hardest event we have competed in so far," Adam reflected on social media. "After silver last year and solid results this year we had strong expectations we might be able to go one further [...] we gave it everything we had."
Jazz added: "This event reminded me of the amazing community I'm surrounded by and that events are about much more than results."
Boats, and sailors, were certainly pushed to their limit in some rough weather conditions that tested both the competitors' resilience and tactics. Para and Inclusive sailors shared the same racecourse with no handicaps or adjustments, just pure racing on the same level playing field.
"This is the spirit of the new World Sailing Strategy", explained Hannah Stodel, Para World Sailing Manager at World Sailing. "Free from barriers, just embracing the joy of sailing. I couldn't be more thrilled with how this event turned out and all the amazing team members who rallied together to make it happen."
With 32 teams from 15 countries, volunteers, supporters, and a fleet of RS Venture Connect charter boats from RS Sailing, the comradery around the event was second to none. Competitors travelled to Rutland from all corners of the globe, including Australia, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Canada, USA, Turkey, Norway, France, UK, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
"If there is one image that captures the difference in the community with Para Inclusive Sailing, it is this..." Hannah posted on Facebook alongside a picture of one of the boats at the championship. "Now you might think there is nothing unusual about this image; just an RS Venture Connect with a coach boat alongside it. Well, that is a Polish coach boat. With a Canadian coach on the bow of the RSVC. Helping a Brazilian team... This is an Inclusive Community, where we help each other."
The RS Venture Connect World Championship 2024 was an event that truly embodied inclusion within the sport of sailing. Visit here to see the full results. Event organisers would also like to thank Rutland Sailing Club for hosting the championships, World Sailing and the RYA media, ICOM for donating the event radios, and Rooster, Kingfisher and Spinlock for providing some excellent prizes.