Foo Yuen Wai is the first-ever para sailing world champion from Hong Kong
by Deyon Lai 31 Mar 10:08 BST
23-30 March 2025
Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) wins the Liberty Worlds - 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships © Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
A Historic Milestone for Hong Kong Sailing
A grey drizzly day in New South Wales (Australia) turned into a shining milestone for
Sailability Hong Kong and the Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China (HKSF) on
Saturday 29 March.
When the day's races were abandoned, FOO Yuen Wai was confirmed as 2025 Hansa
Liberty Open World Champion!
But it was a close thing! Equal on points with Australia's Charles Weatherly (who is an
able sailor), he took the title on a count back of most races won.
Vera Voorbach of the Netherlands took the final podium place finishing just one point
behind Wai and Charles.
FOO Yuen Wai made the history by being the first HKG Para World Champion in sailing.
He joined Sailability in 2013 and competed in the 2014 Asian Para Games winning a
bronze medal in the 2.4mR class. Last year he won first place in the Hansa Asia Pacific
Regional Championships Liberty class, in Brisbane.
FOO Yuen Wai contracted polio as a 3 year old child and has used a wheelchair most of
his life. A father of 3, he works as a financial consultant in the insurance industry and
before taking up sailing also competed in the Asian Para Games 2010 in Pistol
shooting.
Speaking at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club near Sydney, which hosted this week's
World Championships, FOO Yuen Wai said he came to the Championships with a
target, a clear goal in his mind to come in first place and win. "I knew what I had to do,
and was prepared to fight for it like I was fighting for my life." The Sailability HK
coaching plan includes sailing techniques, eating well, getting good sleep, and a
positive mindset.
This was tested in the second race on Day 2 of these Championships when a crisis hit.
Wai knew he was handling the boat correctly but it still wasn't moving smoothly through
the water. So he took the decision to withdraw from that race to resolve the problem in
time for the next race. It was a difficult decision to make in the heat of the moment
which probably saved his Championship challenge.
The problem turned out to be sea
grass stuck to the rudders. As a result he was placed last in that race but with the boat
moving freely again he was able to come second in the final race of the day to sustain
his place on the leaderboard.
On Day 5, conditions were gusty and eventually the races were abandoned and did not
count in the Championship. FOO Yuen Wai was confident he would have achieved a
high placing in the final cancelled race had it not been called off.
What are Wai's plans for sailing in the future? "What I really want to see," he said, "is for
sailing to be reinstated to the Paralympic Games."
Kay Rawbone, HKSF Council member & Sailability HK CEO, has witnessed FOO Yuen
Wai's progress in sailing from the beginning. "I've seen his determination to be the best
across the 2.4mR and all the Hansa classes we have in HK.
"His attitude and commitment have not wavered since he first got into a boat in
November 2013. He is always willing to share his knowledge and eventually I would like
to see him mentoring and coaching new, younger members of the squad. I feel his
success over these years has supported HK to be where it is on the para sailing world
stage, showcasing the inclusiveness, accessibility and diversity of a sport which really is
for everyone."
HKG also had won a silver medal in the Hansa 303 para Two Person international.
championship for athletes with intellectual impairment. Leo Purdie and Joel Suarez
Felipe achieved second place. Leo has been sailing with Sailability HK since the age of
eight. Leo, with buddy sailor Joel, have worked hard to gain a place at this world
championship by taking part in previous world championships in Japan and Portugal.
Leo's father Sean Purdie said, "the whole family is thrilled to part of the world sailing
community. It is a joy to see Leo develop like this."
A very special moment for coach Ed Tang, all sailors and supporters of Sailability Hong
Kong.
Sailability wishes to thank HKSF for their support;
HKSF would like to thank the Hk government (LCSD & SWD) for their funding which
enabled them to take part in these Championships.
Full 2025 Hansa World Championships results: hansaworlds.org