Xervier Doney will return to international competition this October, confirmed to sail the Inclusive Two-Person Keelboat aboard Hansa 303 NZL 2888 at the 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal, once again crewed by his father, Paul.
World Sailing has singled out the entry as one of its development stories for the regatta, noting that Doney, an Intellectual Impairment sailor, took part in the Australia IDP in 2025 before progressing to full international competition in Portimão.
Two titles in Sydney
In March 2025, then 17 and only six months into solo racing, Doney won two international titles at the Hansa World and International Championships in Sydney, held at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. The event drew 195 sailors from 17 countries. Doney took the Para One Person International Championship for athletes with intellectual impairment, finishing ahead of Australia’s Bronwyn Ponder, then partnered with Paul to win the Para Two-Person International Championship in the same category.
He is believed to be the first New Zealander with Down syndrome to win at this level of international sailing.
A father and son crew
Paul now crews for his son in Hansa 303 doubles competition. Earlier in March 2025, the pair won the Ability Cup Doubles at the New Zealand Hansa Nationals in Titahi Bay, a division in which only the sailor with the impairment is permitted to hold the tiller. They also finished second in the overall doubles and the Ability Cup singles.
Xervier sails out of Sailability Wellington, which he joined after moving from Sydney, where he began sailing at the age of five.
Recognised at home
Doney’s 2025 season was recognised at the Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards in November, where he received an Appliances Online Youth Performance Award alongside a strong field of New Zealand sailing talent. Sailability Wellington, his home club, took its own honour on the night, the North Sails Sportsmanship Award, for its work developing the ParAble, a new one-design keelboat now recognised as a national class.
The road to 2027
Doney’s Portimão campaign sits within a record field. More than 200 athletes from over 40 nations are set to compete across eight disciplines from 4 to 10 October, with the opening ceremony on 4 October. The event carries funding backing from the America’s Cup and forms part of World Sailing’s Para Inclusive Strategy 2024 to 2029.
Now 19, Doney is building toward a defence of his 2025 titles at the 2027 World Para Sailing Championships. His preparation includes the European Para Sailing Championships in September, ahead of Portimão in October.
