CN Portitxol trains technicians in canoeing and sailing in the natural environment and leisure time

There is one day a week that is very special for the students of the second year of the FP of Technical Guide in the Natural Environment and Leisure Time of the Santa Monica School. The ten students in this course meet every Thursday at the Club Nàutic Portitxol (CNP) to spend the whole morning receiving canoeing, paddle surfing and sailing lessons from the club's staff, as part of the water activities course.

"There are six hours of classes every Thursday and the students really enjoy them," explains Martí Gelabert, a physical education teacher at this intermediate level. "The professionalism, familiarity, facilities and treatment by the club are excellent," he adds.

"This collaboration is the result of a change in the regulations for this VET course that came into force last year and introduced nautical activities. The Santa Monica School contacted the club and we put ourselves at their disposal to provide them with training in the sailing and canoeing modules. This is the second academic year that we have provided them with this training", explains Rafa Ibancos, sports director and training tutor at the CNP.

In this way, the students, aged between 16 and 20, receive training in canoeing from Omar Calzón, head of this discipline at the club, and in sailing from Noé Calafat and Miguel Ángel Fiol. In canoeing, they receive safety protocols, sailing and rowing techniques and notions of dynamisation and student guidance. As for sailing, the training they receive corresponds to a basic level.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the students learn to sail rafts, for which the club uses two of these boats for group sailing. "Technically, they learn to sail, but in addition to this and the essential safety rules, they also learn how to work with clients on board," adds Ibancos.

"At the end of the training cycle, many of these students are interested in doing the 400 hours of work experience required by their training at Portitxol," says Ibancos, who explains that every year, between March and November or December, between 4 and 6 students from the IAS Bendinat, IES CTIB Princeps d'Espanya and Santa Mónica schools do their work experience here, carrying out all kinds of tasks: guard and custody of children, organization of regattas, nautical maintenance, administrative tasks, customer service,...".

"It is a very popular internship destination for students, because sailing has many professional opportunities for students of this intermediate level. The sea and nautical activities are very important in Mallorca. Together with the club, we choose the most qualified and professional people to get the most out of the internship," says Gelabert.

"For the CNP it is a pleasure to transmit to these young people the passion for canoeing and sailing, to share our knowledge and to collaborate in the training of future professionals, who keep alive the flame of sailing and the love of the sea," concludes Ibancos.