Team Adventure RS Venture 2025 Sailing Campaign

Antony and Toby are a RS venture sailing team hoping to sail in this years Inclusive Series finishing with the Worlds in Oman at the end of 2025.

Antony Williams has just come back to sailing after a long gap due to a motorcycle accident. He never thought he would sail again due to the damage to his pelvis. He was encouraged by a friend to try sailability late in 2023. This is where he met Toby Owen, a 14 year old boy, who’s passion for sailing is infectious.

Toby started sailing at 9 years old and joined Sailability when he was 12, due to ongoing health issues, that meant he was not able to attend school. Encouraged by the volunteers at Sailability, and the Whitefriars Juniors group, Toby’s sailing went from strength to strength in both the ILCA, and then the RS Venture.

Antony and Toby started sailing together in early 2024, this was a big step for Toby as he was used to sailing single handed boats. Due to his autism, he had previously struggled to sail with others in double-handed boats.

They were given the opportunity to sail in the 2024 RS Venture Connect World Championships held in the UK, at Rutland Sailing Club. After a lot of training over three months, they obtained fifth place in the Inclusive Category, twelfth overall and were the third highest British Team. They would now like to take their sailing further and compete in the 2025 season. This will include the UK Nationals at Carsington Sailing Club, the European Championships in Norway and the World Championship in Oman.

It is going to cost a significant amount of money to be able to compete in these events. This will all need to be self funded, as sailing is not a Paralympic sport at present. World sailing is hoping to have it reinstated in time for the 2032 games. The ultimate goal is for Antony and Toby to compete in the Paralympic Games, should sailing is reinstated.

Any help that you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Photo credits to RYA, Martin Allen Photography, World Sailing & Tom Roberts