Discovering sailing at the Handivoile event in Cap D’Ail on August 1, 2009 ยฉ General Council 06
The 4th edition of the Handivoile tour is underway since July 25. After an initial stop in Cap d’Ail on July 31 and August 1, the tour will set up at the Cros Port in Cagnes-sur-Mer on August 5 and 6. The 3rd stage will be on August 7 and 8 at the Handiplage of Esplanade des Goรฉlands in Saint-Laurent-du-Var. The program includes free nautical activity sessions from 9 AM to 4:30 PM for disabled persons from Alpes-Maritimes. For this summer tour in 2009, three adapted trimarans and two small catamarans are available. The community sailboat “Echo” and kayak classes are also included.
In total, the Handivoile 2009 tour will dedicate 14 days in August to exploring the marine world on various Handiplages in the department (see below for the dates of the next stages).
The concept has returned every summer since 2006 with increasing success. Indeed, the first year saw 224 participants, and in 2008, the Handivoile tour enabled 724 people to enjoy sailing and kayaking for free.
An Operation of the Departmental Plan
The concept of the tour is part of the Handivoile 06 program, launched by the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes. It offers all disabled residents of the department the opportunity to engage in sailing. The goal of the program is to promote integration and activities for disabled people.
Handivoile 06 relies on two operations. The first is the Handivoile tour, which every year during the summer makes it possible to discover water sports. The second consists of year-round sailing training at nautical bases that are partners of the departmental program.
Handivoile 06 operates largely due to the partnership of numerous clubs and associations which provide boats, equipment, and certified instructors for free. Among them are the departmental committee “Voile Azur”, the departmental kayaking committee, the Departmental Directorate for Youth and Sports, the French Sailing Federation, the French Handisport Federation, the Departmental House for Disabled Persons, and the associations Cannes Jeunesse, Aventure Pluriel, and the Nice Nautical Club.
The goal, of course, is to beat the 2008 participation record. Keep it in mind!
