Italian sailing federation on a mission to make sport more inclusive with a Para Sailing Academy

Italian sailing federation on a mission to make sport more inclusive with a Para Sailing Academy © Martina Orsini

The Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) have a clear mission when it comes to making sailing a sport for all and the Para Sailing Academy is a key cog in their ambitions to enhance accessibility in Italy and beyond.

At the Youth Sailing World Championships, the national Italian Para Sailing team have trained alongside Under-19 competitors on Lake Garda.

The team were part of opening ceremony celebrations and it is hoped that their platform can be an example to all federations across the globe.

Nina Corbetta is just one Para sailor who has benefitted from the federation's efforts since getting involved in the sport just 12 months ago.

The 17-year-old is revelling in a summer to remember, honing her skills in the Hansa 303 class based at Fraglia Vela Riva this week at a home championships.

"I started thanks to a school course that instantly made me fall in love with the sailing world," Corbetta said. "On the same day, my coach asked me if I wanted to do regattas and races, I said yes and a year after I'm here with the Para Sailing national team, I'm very proud of it. It is a really wonderful class full of beautiful people that have a lot of charisma, we're like a big family.

"It's beautiful, there is a lot of wind and a lot of people, being here with the squad is an experience I'm going to remember for my whole life. One of my biggest goals in the future is to win an important sailing medal, maybe a world medal, that's a big dream I'm going to work on."

In June, World Sailing published its first Para Inclusive Strategy which will guide the growth of the sport through to 2029.

The Para Inclusive Strategy focuses on growing Para Sailing in collaboration with Member National Authorities (MNAs) and major events to deliver a more inclusive sport and increase the number of countries participating in Para Sailing.

At last year's Allianz World Sailing Championships in The Hague, Para Sailing was included for the first time and proved a huge success in the Netherlands.

Para Sailing Academy coach Fillipo Maretti is aligned with the ambition to match this feat at the Youth Sailing World Championships and feels a week based in Riva took more important steps to achieving that goal.

"We have the opportunity to be at the most important youth regattas, it's really good for all of us, coaches and athletes," Maretti said.

"This set up in Riva and across Lake Garda is very important because we can see all the sailors training and racing together. It is the first time that the youth worlds meets Para Sailing.

"We work hard, we push and we hope that we can get our sport back in the Paralympic Games."

In the next five years, World Sailing has committed to sustaining its worldwide reach of more than 32 countries across three IPC regions required for inclusion in the Paralympic Games.

Para Inclusive disciplines will also be delivered as part of the World Sailing Championships in Valencia in 2026 and Gdynia in 2027.

David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said: "It has been very encouraging to see the Para Sailing Academy FIV play a key role at the Youth Sailing World Championships 2024 in Lake Garda.

"The Italian Sailing Federation is a shining example to all who want to further enhance their Para Sailing programmes and I hope that federations around the world continue to invest in their pathways.

"World Sailing remains committed to the development of Para Inclusive Sailing with a long-term strategy which includes achieving reinstatement to the Paralympic Games.

"Ability, age and experience should never be a barrier to progressing as a sailor and World Sailing believes this is an exciting time for all involved in our sport."

You can follow the Youth Sailing World Championships via worldsailingywc.org