Sailors from CV Puerto Andratx Compete in the 1st International Adapted Sailing Regatta in Catalonia

This Monday, July 15, marked the start of the Kakapo Open Race, the first international adapted sailing regatta in Catalonia.

The event began with participant registration and boat measurements, culminating in an inauguration ceremony attended by sailors, coaches, technical staff, and various authorities. Notable attendees included Susana Closa, manager of the Institut Barcelona Esports of the Barcelona City Council; Alberto Puig, representative of the Fundación Mi Alex; and Joaquim Barenys, vice president of the Federació Catalana de Vela, all emphasizing the importance of inclusive and adapted sports in Catalonia.

Among the thirty participants, the sailors from the Club de Vela Puerto de Andratx stand out: Isaías Iglesias, Jana Mestre, Luis Berastain, Ramón Gutierrez, Pau Toni Homar, Carlos Angulo, Violeta del Reino, Mari Carmen Garcia, and Sergi Roig.

The Kakapo Open Race, held from July 16 to 21 at the Barcelona International Sailing Center (BISC), is an international competition featuring around forty sailors and also serves as the Spanish Championship for adapted and inclusive sailing.

The Kakapo Open Race will feature two Hansa 303 modalities: from July 16 to 18 in the individual adapted sailing modality, and from July 19 to 21 in the double inclusive sailing modality, where each team will consist of one person with a disability and one without.

This event is part of the “Sailing for All” program, promoted by the Federació Catalana de Vela, Fundación Mi Álex, and Fundación Barcelona Capital Náutica. The main goal is to promote events that support and raise awareness of sailors in the adapted sailing modality.

The Kakapo Open Race is named after a bird native to New Zealand, the kakapo, known for being the only parrot that cannot fly, a limitation that has allowed it to survive for centuries against new predators.

The spirit of this regatta is to highlight that sailing places everyone on equal footing, as it is an activity that anyone can engage in, regardless of their abilities. With this project, the organizing institutions work towards a more just society, aiming to empower and ensure equal opportunities for all, opening up the sea and the sport of sailing to everyone, especially the most vulnerable groups.