Sailing and Inclusion
Boarding a boat means rethinking one’s balance. At sea, the body is naturally unsettled. These situations create sensations and opportunities to build confidence, to engage physically and emotionally—whether partially or fully.
Sailing for people with disabilities: a vehicle for empowerment and social inclusion
Au-delà de l'aspect Beyond its sporting dimension, adaptive sailing (or "handi-sailing") is a powerful tool for empowerment for people with disabilities. Crewing a sailboat creates a supportive environment for both personal and social development. As Bastien Seantier explains (see Article 1 of the handi-sailing series on EPALE), teamwork on a sailboat requires communication, cooperation, and tolerance in order to reach a shared goal.
This activity offers several complementary benefits:
Communication and Social Inclusion
Team sailing supports reintegration into group dynamics by showing that everyone, regardless of ability, can contribute to collective success. It helps develop essential communication and adaptability skills, needed to overcome unexpected challenges that may arise while sailing. This group-based experience allows participants to discover and value their own capabilities, thereby strengthening their self-confidence.
Motor and Cognitive Rehabilitation
Handling sailing equipment—such as shackles and other technical parts—supports motor rehabilitation and the development of fine motor skills. These repetitive actions help rebuild neural connections and relearn movements. Bastien shares several examples: a young woman with functional disorders who improved her social skills, and a person recovering from a traumatic brain injury who experienced noticeable improvements in walking and speech.
Physical Development
Sailing involves the whole body, promoting muscle tone and offering new physical sensations. This is especially valuable for individuals whose mobility is typically limited.
These multiple benefits make adaptive sailing not only a sport, but also a therapeutic and empowering tool. As Bastien notes, “the smiles and emotional engagement of people with disabilities who have experienced new sensations through this activity are a powerful source of motivation.”
Outlook and Challenges for the Development of Adaptive Sailing
Adaptive sailing is gaining momentum, driven by growing public awareness. National federations—such as the French Sailing Federation and the French Federation for Disability Sport—are increasingly committed to promoting inclusion and equal access to sailing. At the same time, local authorities and marina operators are becoming more attuned to the evolving demographics of their users, including an aging population and growing accessibility needs.
This convergence of interests offers promising prospects. However, significant challenges remain—particularly in terms of overall accessibility and transportation.
Access to nautical facilities is still problematic, especially concerning transportation. How can we make it easier for people with reduced mobility to reach a marina or beach? Improving public transport links and signage is a key issue. While infrastructure for people with reduced mobility is becoming more common, other forms of disability are sometimes overlooked. The Lorient region stands out for its inclusive approach, taking into account a wide range of disabilities, including invisible ones.
