Bridgemohan makes T&T sailing history

In a landmark moment for Caribbean sport, Trinidad and Tobago will be represented at a World Sailing Championship for the first time in the Para and Inclusive Sailing category.

The global governing body, World Sailing, has officially invited 23-year-old athlete Justin Bridgemohan and his coach, Kristof Stüven, to the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Oman.

The event, set for December 3-8 at the Barceló Mussanah Resort, will see Bridgemohan make history as the nation’s first-ever para sailor to compete on the world stage.

Bridgemohan’s journey to becoming a competitive sailor is as remarkable as his selection. His foray into parasport began only last year at a para badminton workshop in Mexico, where he first met Stüven, who was training as a classifier.

It was there that the duo first dreamed of taking to the water. That dream became a reality earlier this year when the Andrew Lewis Sailing Foundation’s Academy hosted its first summer sailing programme.

Bridgemohan joined near the end of the initiative, which taught over 200 new sailors, and instantly took to the sport. He now trains at the academy two to three times weekly, rapidly progressing from a novice to racing his fully able-bodied colleagues under Stüven’s coaching.

“This is more than just a competition, it’s a movement,” said Stüven. We want to show that sailing is a sport for everyone, regardless of determinant factors like race, gender, or ability, and that Trinidad and Tobago has the talent, heart, and determination to make waves globally.”

Stüven’s role at the championship is also pivotal. A World Sailing Level 1 Technical Coach and a national classifier with the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee (TTPC), he has been invited by World Sailing to shadow international classifiers, a rare opportunity that will position him as one of the region’s first experts in para sailing classification.

Bridgemohan is expected to compete in the Hansa 303 class, one of the world’s most recognised adaptive sailing boats. His participation and formal classification at the event will officially certify him as an internationally recognised para sailor.

This historic feat highlights the nation’s growing commitment to para sport development, championed by the TTPC and the Andrew Lewis Sailing Foundation, where Stüven serves as Head Coach.

“We are proud to see young leaders like Kristof Stüven and athletes like Justin Bridgemohan carrying the torch for inclusive sport,” said Sudhir Ramessar, President of the TTPC. “Their commitment to excellence and representation will inspire many more young athletes across the Caribbean to believe in their potential.”

(CMC)