Two championships, one national and the other European, and two national and international stages of adapted sailing, taking place in September and October, will make Portimão the capital of this sport, in a project by Teia D'Impulsos, in partnership with the Yacht Club da Marina of Portimão.
In order to "affirm the excellent conditions for sailing", Solidary Sailing, a project by Teia D'Impulsos, in partnership with the Portimão Marina Yacht Club, will organize the National and European Adapted Sailing Championships, run from the 27th to the 29th of September, and from the 5th to the 12th of October, respectively.
Sailor Luís Brito, coordinator of the Vela Solidária project, from Teia d'Impulsos, stresses that “this is the biggest challenge ever taken on in Portuguese lands, with regard to adapted sailing”.
The organization of these events, adds Luís Brito, «results from the work that has been developed since 2012, with the constitution of the adapted sailing school, participation in all national competitions (three each year) and in championships. Europe and the World (eight in total), the organization of two national championships (2015 and 2017), in addition to the personal skills program, which annually integrates around 300 people with disabilities».
These events, he adds, "are different within Portimão European City of Sport, as it is a nautical sport practiced by people with disabilities."
In the National Championship, it is expected the participation of 40 national sailors, while the number of sailors, in the European, should reach 150, representing 20 countries, European and beyond. "In the two championships and internships, we will have, for two weeks, more than 400 people involved in what will be the biggest adapted sailing event in Europe in the year 2019".
The championships will be based in the Marina de Portimão, with the regattas taking place in the estuary of the River Arade.
The project coordinator stresses that «Vela Solidária, the Marina de Portimão Yacht Club and Teia D'Impulsos intend to make this sporting event a milestone in adapted sports in Portimão, in policies and actions related to accessibility and accessible tourism , in attracting new partners and in facilitating cooperation networks'.
“We want the Adapted Sailing European Championship to be a catalyst for growth, awareness and human and natural resources development”, adds Luís Brito.
The official highlights, in addition to other partnerships, the one established with the University of the Algarve, «in order to develop a plan for analyzing and evaluating the impact of events, creating tourist programs and accessible routes, as well as planning, implementation and management of these events'.
«We want these special sailors, their entourages and the members of the organization to have a unique experience for 15 days, and for that, we also have special partners for their sensitivity and commitment to this cause», concludes Luís Brito.
Program:
>>National Adapted Sailing Championship – 27th to 29th of September
>>International Adapted Sailing Internship (ParaWorldSailing) – 30 September to 5 October
>>National Adapted Sailing Internship (APCA) – 30 September to 4 October
>>HANSA European Championship – Adapted Sailing, October 5th to 12th
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