Special Olympics sailing is one of Special Olympics' newer sports, having been included in the World Games for the first time in 1995. Today, there are 318 athletes from 22 Programs finding joy anchallenge in this sport. Special Olympics sailing has training and competition opportunities for
individual athletes and athlete teams as well as Unified Sports™ teams. Unified Sports allows athletes with and without mental retardation to compete together as a crew.

Competition opportunities exist at the local, state, national andinternational levels. Sailing competition is offered at the quadrennial Special Olympics World Games as a nationally popular sport. As in all
Special Olympics sports, athletes are placed in divisions according to ability, age and gender. Training for local, regional and national competition provides all athletes with opportunities for success.

The Official Special Olympics Sports Rules govern all Special Olympics sailing competitions. As an international sports program, Special Olympics has created these rules based upon the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and National Governing Body (NGB) rules for sailing. ISAF
or NGB rules are employed except when they are in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules. In such cases, the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules apply.
 

 

 EVENTS OFFERED

 1. Level 1: Unified Sports™ 2-person team. The Special Olympics athlete member of the crew
 will have
 complete responsibility of head sail trim.

2. Level 2: Unified 2-person team. A Special Olympics athlete member of the crew shall
 control the helm for at least fifty percent of the race.

3. Level 3: All team members are Special Olympics athletes with an onboard coach. The
 athletes have complete control of the boat. The coach can offer verbal assistance.

4. Level 4: The entire team consists of Special Olympics athletes (no coach will be on board).

5. Level 2,3, and 4 may elect to use spinnaker sails.

6. Level 5: Special Olympics athletes compete single-handedly.