The little great champion of Portimão needs help to represent the Algarve and Portugal in the European Sailing Championship, which takes place in the Republic of Ireland, between the 12th and 20th of July.
Beatriz Gago is only 12 years old and in five years of sailing she won two titles of National Champion for Children (2012 and 2013) and reached 3rd place in the Portugal Youth Championship 2014.
In her first year as a youth, 'Bia' also managed to qualify for the European Optimist Championship, but the costs of participation are high. On Saturday, July 5th, in Portimão we can all help and have a good time at Largo 1º de Dezembro.
The athlete's family and Clube Naval de Portimão launched a solidarity campaign to take Beatriz Gago to Ireland. “Let's help Bia fulfill a dream” is the campaign's motto and the appeal made, through the Sul Informação, by the general secretary of the Clube Naval de Portimão, Pedro Estorninho.
“It's not the first time our athletes go to European and World championships. But this year the participation values are substantially higher than in 2013,” said the club director.
The value of the participation of Beatriz Gago in the European Optimist Championship is 2700 euros. The Clube Naval de Portimão supports the athlete's registration, which represents an expense of around 600 euros, and the Portuguese Sailing Federation will make a refund - "generally around 200 to 300 euros", says Pedro Estorninho - only after the race . Everything else is up to the athlete's family.
“I have always worked with children at risk and I have always been linked to solidarity causes. I think we should help each other and I've always instilled that in my children”, said Susana Nery, mother of the young sailor, to the Sul Informação. This time, the mother's cause is her own daughter and the appeal she leaves behind is the phrase that young Bia likes best: “Saile with me to Ireland”.
In the absence of institutional financial support, except as possible by the Clube Naval de Portimão, the family and the club launched a campaign to appeal for public support.
In addition to raffles and donations, which can be delivered to the Clube Naval de Portimão (phone: 282 417 529), the club and the family organized a solidarity party in Portimão, in Largo 1º de Dezembro, in front of the Municipal Theater of Portimão, on Saturday 5th of July, between 19pm and 00pm.
Admission is free and the party will be served with live music. Solidarity will materialize in revenue from the sale of food and drink on the premises. The call to all Portimonsians is to join the party and at the same time help a young countrywoman to represent the city, region and country in the European Sailing Championship of the Optimist Class.
OTHER CASES
The Algarve has four athletes qualified for the European (3) and the World (1) of Optimist 2014. Afonso Rodrigues (Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro) brilliantly qualified for the World Cup in Argentina in October.
The costs of participating in the World Cup are higher, around 3400 euros and the young sailor from Faro also need help. the GCNFaro organized a party in São João which was essential in the objective of raising funds so that his athlete can go to the Worlds.
Manuel Fortunato (Club de Vela de Lagos) is qualified for the European Championship. In your case, fortunately, the family is available to support the costs and the athlete's participation in the European competition is not at risk and does not involve any solidarity campaign.
“In other years we had to do raffles. It's a shame that the Sailing Federation doesn't fund its own national team. They provide little and late support. Only 15 days ago we received support from last year's participation”, commented Rui Raimundo, CVLagos sailing coach, to Sul Informação.
Another happy case is that of Daniela Miranda (Associação Naval do Guadiana), who in April won the Portuguese Youth Championship, held in Portimão. At the time, Daniela told the Sul Informação that his main objective was to go to the European. It was found with all the credit and its participation is not in question.
ANGuadiana pays all expenses for your athlete's participation in the European Championship. “We make an extra effort and the athlete will be there”, guaranteed the president of ANGuadiana, Luís Madeira, to the Sul Informação. “It is a pity that the local authority (Vila Real de Santo António) does not help”, added the official.
The situation of André Serra, two-time vice-champion in the youth title, is difficult. André Serra did all his training and first years of competition in the Algarve, at Clube Naval de Portimão and Clube de Vela de Lagos.
This year he managed to qualify for the Optimist World Cup, but the club he has represented since 2013 – Clube Naval de Cascais – does not finance the athlete's participation in the World Cup.
André Serra's family also organized a solidarity campaign so that the athlete can represent the country in Argentina.
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