Sailing Special Olympics Hellas (Greece) competitors take a practice run preparing for sailing competition at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Gerry McGuinness, IRELAND OUT] Speed, strength and smarts are three essential keys to unlocking success in any sport, and Special Olympics sailing is no different. The best sailors develop all three aspects of their racing to their fullest potential. Special Olympics sailing has training and competition opportunities for individual and teams of Special Olympics athletes; as well as Special Olympics Unified Sports® crews. Special Olympics Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports sailing, crews shall be comprised of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. If the boat is typically raced by a crew of 2, one member will be an individual with intellectual disabilities; if the boat is typically raced by a crew of 3 or more, the majority of the crew shall be individuals with intellectual disabilities. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender. Sailing Facts Sailing is one of Special Olympics' newer sports, having been included in the World Games for the first time in 1995. The 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games hosted 50 sailors from four Special Olympics Programs. At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, 60 sailors from 7 Programs competed in sailing. As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 4,408 Special Olympics athletes compete in sailing. Sailing Events Level 1 — Unified Sports: the Special Olympics athlete member(s) of the crew will have responsibility for head sail trim Level 2 — Unified Sports: a Special Olympics athlete member of the crew shall control the helm for at least 50% of the race Level 3 — All Special Olympics athlete team, with an onboard coach. The athletes have complete control of the boat. The coach can offer verbal assistance without becoming physically involved with the sailing of the boat Level 4 — The entire team consists of Special Olympics athletes, no onboard coach (Note, for Level 2, 3 and 4, teams may elect to use spinnaker sails) Level 5 — Special Olympics athlete competes single handed. Related Links International Sailing Federation (ISAF)