On October 4 and 5, the port of Nice will host the Néréides Cup. This regatta, open to all women, aims to combine sailing and solidarity. The event will mix sport, culture, and social engagement.
In Nice, the sailboats will set sail at the beginning of October. The Néréides Cup will bring together all-female crews. No previous sailing experience is needed. Participants will be guided by professional female skippers.
The principle is simple: each crew represents a theme. There will be women in career transition, business leaders, participants committed to Pink October, or crews including women in situations of disability.
The objective is not athletic performance. What matters is the collective experience. Sharing the helm and sails becomes a means of expression. Social or physical differences do not prevent anyone from boarding.
Alongside the regatta, a village will be set up at the port. Exhibitions, ethical fashion shows, and performances will complement the program. Activities will also be offered to families.
A project born from a personal journey
At the origin of the Néréides Cup, there is Pat-Shereen Aglae. A businesswoman, teacher, actress, and single mother, she discovered sailing during a course at the Monaco Yacht Club. This initiation opened up a new horizon for her.
She explains: “the Néréides Cup was born out of a cry of rage. This project was my way of taking the helm back. To say that even after the night, you can return to the light.”
For her, the sea is a space of resilience. She found a platform to advocate for boldness, solidarity, and gender equality.
From the first edition, the project brought people together. Local associations, nautical professionals, and many volunteers got involved. This dynamic allowed dozens of women to sail together, whether they were able-bodied or in situations of disability.
Solidarity as a guiding thread
At sea, crews learn to trust each other. Participants’ testimonies emphasize listening and support. The experience erases usual hierarchies. Solidarity takes precedence over competition.
Pat-Shereen Aglae highlights: “the Néréides Cup is a space where differences fade to the benefit of solidarity. We learn to listen, to trust one another.”
This philosophy continues on land. The regatta fits into a broader approach: promoting women’s access to sports and sailing in particular. Partnerships are developed with local women’s associations. The idea is to create a sustainable lever for empowerment.
Sailing thus becomes a tool for confidence and personal development. Getting on a boat, managing a maneuver, facing the wind and the sea are experiences that build self-esteem.
A cultural and social dimension
Beyond sailing, the event also aims to convey a message. The exhibitions and performances scheduled in Nice will highlight the sea as a territory of expression. Ethical fashion will also be present, a sign of engagement with environmental and societal concerns.
The ambition is clear: to make the Néréides Cup a regular event on the French Riviera. A moment where sport, culture, and solidarity intertwine.
The Néréides Cup is not limited to a weekend. It seeks to be long-lasting. The organizers talk about a movement, more than just an event. By encouraging women to venture to sea, the project combats stereotypes and fosters a different image of sport.
The participants come from diverse backgrounds: working professionals, retirees, students, mothers, artists, or women in career transition. Some have never set foot on a sailboat. Others have sailing experience. All share the same desire: to take part in a collective adventure.
The next edition, scheduled for 2025 in Nice, aims to confirm this direction. The initiators hope to see the fleet grow and multiply partnerships.
The sea as a symbol
At the heart of the project, the sea appears as a space of rebirth. It imposes its constraints but also offers a rare freedom. The crew learns to work with it, to collaborate. This experience becomes a metaphor for inclusion and empowerment.
In conclusion, the Néréides Cup wants to show that there are different ways of practicing sailing. Far from elitism, open to all, it proposes a model where sport, solidarity, and culture move forward together.
