PORTLAND-based Megan Pascoe is taking it upon herself to do all she can to re-introduce Paralympic sailing to the world stage.

The sport has taken a hit within the last year after news that it has been de-listed as a Paralympic event, and with the news of funding cuts to the British team, Pascoe is keen raise the sports profile.

She said: “The main challenge is to get the sport back into the Paralympics, it’s not going to be an easy task because the money has dried up for a lot of countries around the world.

“We’re still being supported by the RYA but it’s not at the same level as before.”

Speaking about the challenges facing the sport, Pascoe was keen to stress the importance of the next 12 months.

She said: “In 2018, world sailing has to put a bid in to reintroduce Paralympic sailing into the games, and they’ll make a decision on that.

“Between now and then we have to show that we’re an international sport, with lots of countries and people taking part.

“There’ll be a big concentration of sailors at the Disabled World Championships in Germany in June, and then at a few of the other World Cup events throughout the year to see if we can get enough countries there.

“The problem with that is because the money isn’t there. Before we had money in this country but not elsewhere, and without the money it’s hard to get the motivation to take part in these events, because people have to use their own money and holidays to take part.

“I think it’s just about getting as many people as we can there and trying to support the nations where it’s more difficult to get there, places like Australia, so if we can help them with transport that can help.

“Hopefully in the next couple of months we’ll know a bit more, it’s a difficult one.”

As well as taking part in the sport, Pascoe has taken it upon herself to take a more active role in navigating the sport to where it needs to be.

She said: “I sit on the RYA council which is part of their hierarchy in the governing body. I’m trying to help to decide where they want disabled sailing to go in the coming years.

“Everyone talks about legacy, and I think if we can create a legacy for Paralympic sailing, even if it doesn’t get reintroduced to the games, we can try to get more disabled people into racing which has to be a good thing.

“If we can push sailing to a higher level it has to be worthwhile.”