Self-determination in sailing

One in a wheelchair, the other with a severe walking disability: two female sailors on the foiling GC32 – they made this decision themselves

Subheading: Laura and Steffi sailed at 25 knots on the Germany SailGP Team’s catamaran off Sassnitz. They decided for themselves to take the risk.

Sassnitz, 21 August 2026. 25 knots, one metre above the water, on a fast foiling catamaran: Laura and Steffi chose to do this – of their own accord, fully informed and without anyone making the decision for them. Laura is in a wheelchair, Steffi has a severe walking disability; both took part in the inclusive sailing regatta in Sassnitz. For us, this is precisely the heart of this story, not the speed.

It all began with a conversation on the opening night of the inclusive SailGP Sassnitz 2026. Paul and Moritz from the Germany SailGP Team struck up a conversation with the pair, and by the end of the evening, an invitation had been extended that will never be repeated: to sail along on the Germany SailGP Team’s foiling GC32 catamaran.

Before accepting, they had a trial run on board and a detailed discussion with the team. Only then was the decision made, and on 21 August they set sail. After all, a GC32 is not a boat on which risks can simply be managed away: the catamaran lifts about a metre out of the water on its foils, reaching speeds rarely seen in sailing.

For Laura and Steffi, this turned into a foiling experience that very few sailors ever get to have: the moment when the hulls lift off, the boat becomes quieter and yet continues to accelerate – up to 25 knots, whilst the water rushes past a metre below them.

That leaves the question we want to discuss: who actually decides what risks a person is allowed to take? People with disabilities often have this decision taken out of their hands. Others assess on their behalf what is reasonable, weigh up what might happen, and conclude it is better to give it a miss – usually with good intentions, but without asking the people concerned. Self-determination thus ends precisely where things get exciting.

Laura and Steffi took a look at the boat, spoke to the team, had them explain what they were getting themselves into, and then said yes. Just as people without disabilities would do in their place. There is no objective reason why this right should not apply to them.

The Germany SailGP Team took this seriously: a seat trial on board, an open discussion, honest information – and then leaving the decision where it belongs. For us, that is inclusion: not weighing up risks for others, but creating the conditions that allow them to decide for themselves.

What remains, therefore, is not just the memory of speed and weightlessness, but the tone on board: straightforward, matter-of-fact, without special treatment – and with the confidence that the two women can cope on this boat despite their disabilities.

“After trying out a seat on the boat and a brief chat with the team, it was clear to me that I wanted to share the risk associated with this boat with Benedikt. Above all, the way Paul, Moritz and the whole team treated me made me feel safe.

I am incredibly grateful that I was able to experience the feeling of weightless sailing at a top speed of 25 knots and sailing on foils a metre above the water. I felt that it meant something to Paul and the whole team that I was sailing with them. For me, this event truly embodies inclusion, because it’s about the shared experience and not about the risks involved.” Laura

“Just stepping onto this high-tech boat and being allowed on board as a guest was something very special in itself. But then to experience the catamaran rising onto its foils, the speed increasing more and more, and the water rushing past beneath us at breathtaking speed – that was simply incredible. I was also particularly impressed by the fantastic team spirit amongst the crew. The way they treated us so naturally and without fuss, as well as their confidence that we could manage on the catamaran despite our disabilities, really impressed me. It was a brilliant experience that I’m certainly not going to forget any time soon.” Steffi

As we reflect on our inclusive sailing event held alongside the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix, the impact of that day continues to resonate with us to this day. It impressed us and moved us – and it sums up quite precisely what we are working towards: experiences like this should happen much more often, and they should be the norm. Not the exception, requiring a special invitation, but the norm.

We would like to thank Paul, Moritz and the entire Germany SailGP team for this invitation and for the matter-of-fact way in which it was extended. The Germany SailGP team is a member and year-round partner of Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.