At Kieler Woche, the crew of the J/70 "Blindfisch" compete at national league level in their class. On board: people with and without visual impairments. At the Helga Cup on Hamburg's Binnenalster lake, a double-digit number of crews made up of women with and without disabilities are competing, while others are sailing together at the Heinz Kettler Cup. Beacons of inclusive sailing that show that sailing is a sport for everyone.
Behind them are the North German Regatta Association and the "Wir sind Wir - Inclusion in Sailing e. V." association. Its second chairman, Sven Jürgensen, is something like the guardian of these lighthouse projects. A long-distance runner by trade, he is passionate when it comes to his favourite cause: the coexistence of people with and without disabilities on the water - inclusion.
More on the topic of "Inclusion":
Sailing promotes team spirit, courage and self-confidence - qualities that help to overcome fears of contact and personal hurdles in inclusive sailing and bring people together. They learn to sail together or take part in regular and high-calibre competitions. At the same time, they also promote social interaction. "I believe that inclusive sailing really needs to be made visible. That's why we are so loud. So that people can see: Wow, that works!" says Jürgensen.
And they see it. Inclusive regattas and even four world championships in Hamburg and Rostock are being recognised on the sailing scene and in the media, giving inclusive sailing a boost. Many clubs across Germany have long since put the idea of inclusion into practice; the German Sailing Association (DSV) lists a total of 51 on its website.
Removing barriers in people's minds
Others plan, but sometimes struggle with the right approach. "The number of enquiries has risen steadily in recent years," says Elke Paatz, Inclusion Officer for Sailing at the DSV. She advises clubs as well as people with disabilities. "One of the biggest obstacles is usually in the mind: the fear of contact, the question 'Can we do this? First and foremost, there is a lack of information and education," she knows from experience and adds: "But if you get behind it, many obstacles can be broken down with a little creativity and craftsmanship."
"Teaching sailing vocabulary to someone with cognitive impairments is not so easy. We simplify everything. We then 'pull' or 'push' somewhere." Hans-Jürgen Leiß. His son Phil-Mattis was born with Down's syndrome. He learnt to sail in the Opti and now regularly sits at the tiller at the Special Olympic World Games.
The "Turning Point" foundation also aims to break down barriers in people's minds. It brings young people with mental or physical disabilities in particular, as well as socially disadvantaged people, onto the water. Jens Kroker, one of the world's most successful Paralympic sailors, runs the foundation. He and his team provide advice and support to both clubs interested in inclusion and people with disabilities who want to sail.
The programme includes inclusive, three-day sailing courses, aptly named "turning courses". At the Essen Gymnastics and Fencing Club (ETUF) in particular, 64 young people have become enthusiastic about sailing and inclusion has become firmly anchored in the club. Thomas Mai, second chairman of the ETUF sailing team, is certain: "This is not the last event of this kind that we will organise as a club. The enthusiasm and self-confidence gained by the participants after their experiences on the water leave us with no other choice."
"One of the biggest obstacles is usually in the mind: the fear of contact, the question 'Can we do this? First and foremost, there is a lack of information and education. But if you get behind it, all the things that come afterwards can be solved. As a rule, you don't start big, you start small and use the things that are already available in the organisation. With a little creativity and craftsmanship, many obstacles can be removed on the boats and also on land." Elke Paatz advises clubs and interested parties on inclusion in sailing for the German Sailing Association.
Inclusion is a supplement to para- or special sports
Like Jens Kroker, Siegmund Mainka and Heiko Kröger are other Paralympic gold medallists who have been committed to inclusive sailing, some of them for decades: Mainka with the "Wir sind Wir" association and Kröger as a consultant for clubs that want to integrate inclusive sailing into club life. Kröger sails in the 2.4mR class in both para and "healthy" races and has collected a considerable number of medals in the process. He has set an example. "It was almost unknown that people with disabilities could practise sailing and even compete against sailors without disabilities in regattas," he says in retrospect.
What is called "inclusion" today is understood as a supplement, not a replacement for para or special sport. After all, the type of sailing must also suit the people involved. Phil-Mattis Leiß from Wilhelmshaven, for example, is a committed Special Olympics sailor. He was born with Down's syndrome and regularly sails for medals in competitions for people with intellectual disabilities.
"That certainly has its advantages," says his father Hans-Jürgen, because at the Special Olympics, the athletes are categorised individually according to the different degrees of mental impairment on the day of the competition. "The fact that they compete at different levels means they can experience a completely different sense of achievement," he emphasises.
Multi-faceted inclusion as an energy bomb
People can be impaired in many ways: in their social or societal status, in their sensory perception, through illness or in their physical or cognitive abilities. Inclusion is correspondingly multifaceted; it cannot be worked off a fixed list. On the contrary, it often arises from the individual situation.
"Inclusive sailing is one of the best things I've done so far. It enables everyone to sail - not just people with disabilities. We also include non-disabled people. If we have non-disabled family members, we can say to dad, daughter, wife, brother: let's go sailing." Siegmund Mainka, gold and silver medallist in the triple keelboat at the Paralympic Games.
This is also the case for Christina, who sails in the Helga Cup with the "MammaSEAtas" in a crew of women with breast cancer. She has just completed her treatment and is now training on a J/70, together with other women, some of whom are still in the middle of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The illness has shifted her ambition: "It's not important to sail successfully in the regatta. It's important to soak up the energy that's there, to feel alive, to take part in life!"
For some groups, inclusive sailing programmes do not require much more than the commitment of the club members and perhaps a few donations for travel costs and catering. Sailing with people with intellectual disabilities can involve much more support. "Teaching the sailing vocabulary to someone with cognitive impairments is not so easy," says Hans-Jürgen Leiß, for example. "We simplify everything. We 'pull' or 'push' somewhere, for example."
Each boat can be sailed inclusively
Empathy and knowledge of the right way to deal with the impairment are always required. "But you shouldn't be afraid of contact," recommends Elke Paatz. It doesn't matter if you put your foot in your mouth once, "as long as you talk to each other and clear up any misunderstandings".
"It means a lot to me how we encourage and recognise each other! It's not important to sail successfully in the regatta. It's important to soak up the energy that's there, to feel alive, to participate in life and to gratefully soak up every moment!" Christina sails a J/70 at the Helga Cup together with four other women affected by breast cancer.
If people with physical disabilities want to sail, the use of materials is more important. Some clubs shy away from the cost of a handicapped-accessible boat and a barrier-free club area. However, every boat can be sailed inclusively, even if not every boat is suitable for every type of disability.
Heiko Kröger dispels concerns about costs and effort. He has been missing his left forearm since birth; no problem in the 2.4mR. Recently, however, he has also been sailing a more demanding OK dinghy. "I want to set an example that it's not absolutely necessary to buy special boats," he explains, "because that might take away the clubs' capital for the rest of their youth work." Inclusion 2.0 is what he calls his plea to shift down a gear and simply get started.
Kröger explains to the clubs what they need - but above all, what they don't need. "Instead of a costly conversion of the club grounds, you can create accessibility with just a motorbike ramp," he recommends. With a permanently installed block and buoyancy bodies, a motorbike can be converted to make it accessible.
Despite initial reluctance to overcome diffuse hurdles, a successful project can be created with little effort - provided that people find each other. "People with disabilities often don't even realise that they could sail," says Elke Paatz. This is why the DSV is also represented at a rehabilitation fair every year. There, astonished people stand in front of the boat they have brought along and learn that they can sail despite their disability. And how they can do it: Adaptations to boats can compensate for many disabilities to such an extent that they do not play a role on board. Some things that appear to be a restriction in everyday life can also be an advantage on board. For example, when the senses of a sailor with minimal eyesight are so sharpened that they can sense every small change in the wind.
"I believe that inclusive sailing really needs to be made visible. That's why we are so loud. So that people can see: Wow, that works! Maybe only two or three out of ten people who do a course or taster sailing stick with it. But that's also the case in normal sport." Sven Jürgensen, initiator of the Helga Cup and voice of the association "Wir sind Wir - Inclusion in Sailing e. V."
Inclusive sailing linked to facilities
The easiest way to set up an inclusive programme is when inclusion has a face: "If a club knows that we are doing this for our colleague who has a disability, then it's easier. Or if someone stands right outside the door and says: 'I'd love to go sailing'," says Elke Paatz from experience.
Heiko Kröger goes one step further and advises: "Try to think about inclusion in terms of older people, together with young people." After all, barrier-free facilities or adapted boats help members to sail for longer.
However, inclusive programmes can also be initiated with the help of other institutions, such as disability support services, schools, workshops or residential homes for the disabled. Sven Jürgensen and his colleagues in Hamburg have also done this. Recently, children with severe disabilities from a nearby school have been sailing on the Binnenalster once a week.
This initially required some explanation - and did not go entirely unchallenged. "Some parents were afraid that something could happen to the children on the water," says Sven Jürgensen. "And one of these girls," continues Jürgensen, "said to our trainer Kalle in the middle of the sailing course: 'This is the best thing I've ever done in my life!"
Advice and help for the start
- On the website of the German Sailing Association there are many testimonials and a list of all DSV clubs that offer inclusive sailing. Personal advice from the Inclusion Officer. More information: dsv.org
- Heiko Kröger advises clubs and has written the handbook "Adaptive sailing - inclusion in and with sailing", which is available online free of charge. More information: heiko-kroeger.de
- The Bente 24 "Henk de Mol" is wheelchair accessible. There are sailing opportunities at Sail Bremerhaven and Kieler Woche.
- With the "Index for Inclusion in and through Sport", the German Disabled Sports Association provides a very detailed handout on the entire topic of inclusion in sport free of charge. More information: dbs-npc.de
- The Turning Point Foundation supports clubs in offering inclusive sailing and comes to project days to advise them. More information: turningpoint-foundation.com
- The North German Regatta Association offers people with disabilities the opportunity to sail on Hamburg's Inner Alster. More information: nrv.de
Funding for inclusive sailing
From the local level to federal funding, there are many funding opportunities. The emotional ties and visibility that arise from local funding should not be underestimated! They can often usefully supplement, or at best even replace, the often time-consuming application and reporting to larger institutions such as ministries or state offices. Possible sponsors:
- Donors and sponsors from the club environment
- Service clubs such as Rotarians or Lions
- Local savings banks and their foundations
- Aktion Mensch: It has its own funding programme. There is also a list of other sponsors of inclusive sport on their website. More information: action-people.com
- Foundations: The Federal Association of German Foundations provides databases with more than 12,700 foundations, funding profiles and links on its website. Tip: When searching for funding, use terms other than "inclusion", for example "child and youth welfare", "disabled", "sport". More information: stiftungssuche.de
- State and federal funding for sports, the disabled or the promotion of children and young people.
