SIR Robin Knox-Johnston and 2012 gold medal star Helena Lcuas have joined the call to reinstate disabled sailing into the Olympics after the shock decision to drop it from the 2020 Games.

Sir Robin, the first person ever to sail solo round the world non-stop, branded the decision as "disgraceful" and has backed a campaign to see the sport restored to the Olympics.

The sailing world was left in shock when the International Paralympic Committee announced this week that disabled sailing would not play a part in the Tokyo paralympics in 2020.

It prompted Hampshire's Geoff Holt, one of the leading figures in disabled sailing, to start a petition demanding the sport be reinstated, which has since been backed by more than 10,000 people including many stars from the sailing world.

Sir Robin, who runs the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from his base in Portsmouth, said: “The decision to withdraw sailing from the Paralympics comes at a time when the opportunities for disabled sailing are expanding.

“The reason given for the withdrawal is that not enough nations provide sailing for disabled people. “Any sport takes time to develop, especially something that was considered impossible until very recently. But as the awareness of disabled sailing has increased so have the numbers participating and so have the number of nations taking it up.

“Clearly the International Paralympic Committee has decided it will not wait for the necessary increase, and in doing so, will deprive disabled people in less developed countries of the opportunity to take up a sport where they can use their minds to race as well as any able bodied person.

“It is a disgraceful decision and although the IPC says it is final, nothing is ever final. “If enough people get behind the campaign the IPC will either have to face the opprobrium of many or change their decision.”

Southampton disabled sailor Lucas, who won gold at the London 2012 paralympics in the 2.4mR class, has also criticised the decision, describing it as a “backwards step” for disabled sailing.

She said: “I'm really disappointed that sailing has not been chosen as a sport for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

“Since London 2012 there has been a lot of effort in continuing the legacy and making sailing an accessible sport to everyone.

“It's a big backwards step for Paralympic sailing which I feel was really developing In terms of participation and professionalism.”