What can be cured with sailing

Sailing, besides being a wonderful sport that puts you in direct contact with nature and the sea, also has a very high and growing therapeutic value, which is expanding in various pathological directions. For example, the program entitled Ready to sail, developed by the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna for young patients with rare skeletal diseases. But sailing therapy also works, as a physical and psychological support, for cancer patients, those with neurological and rheumatic diseases, motor disabilities, developmental disorders, and mental health issues.

The word "cure" must be understood in its broadest sense. Sailing does not replace medications, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and other treatments prescribed by doctors, but can complement them as complementary therapyBoating activities stimulate movement, balance, orientation, and collaboration. They also help restore confidence, independence, and social relationships, especially when the outings are part of a program supervised by doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, educators, and qualified instructors.

Rare skeletal diseases

Sailing can become a form of occupational therapy for the boys with rare diseases of the skeleton. Adjusting a line, maintaining position while sailing, and participating in maneuvers require the coordinated use of the arms, trunk, and balance. Activities must be adapted to the physical condition of each participant and performed with trained medical and nautical personnel.

Ready to Set Sail from the Institute OrRizzoli's Topical. The project began as an experimental study for adolescents with rare skeletal diseases. Participants were supported by geneticists, physiatrists, rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, engineers, and sailing instructors. Initial data collected indicated positive effects on movement and psychological well-being. After the pilot phase, a comparative study was launched to assess the results of sailing therapy in a more structured manner.

Marinando ODV. The Marina di Ravenna association collaborated with Rizzoli on the practical part of Ready to sail. It provides boats, instructors and volunteers for educational and rehabilitative activities aimed at people with disabilities or fragilityEach child is involved in the life of the crew according to their own possibilities, preventing the experience from being reduced to a simple boat trip.

Neurological diseases

Sailing requires coordinating movements, controlling posture, observing what's happening around the boat, and reacting to changes in the wind. These activities can be useful in courses designed for people with disabilities. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other neurological diseasesHowever, there is no single program that is suitable for everyone: intensity, duration, and type of exercise must be decided based on the illness and the person's conditions.

ParkinsOnLake on Lake Garda. The course is designed for people with Parkinson's disease and is promoted by the HYAK APS association, together with ASST Garda and ParkinZone APS. The outings allow participants to experiment with adapted forms of movement and work on their balance, coordination, and ability to collaborate with other crew members.

The ESPRIMO journey of the Tender To Nave Italia Foundation. The project was developed with the Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement of the University of Verona for adults with multiple sclerosisLife on board and nautical activities were used to foster independence, participation, and awareness of one's own capabilities, within a program developed together with the professionals who supported the participants.

Motor disabilities

People who use a wheelchair or have limb limitations can participate in the navigation thanks to accessible boats, barrier-free docks, and adapted controls. On some boats, wheelchair users can reach the helm and take part in the maneuvers themselves. Sailing thus becomes an opportunity to exercise the core and upper limbs, but also to experience independence and responsibility.

Free in the Wind in Porto San Giorgio. The association organizes introductory sailing courses and competitive sailing programs for people with disabilities. It operates 2.4mR and Hansa 303 class boats and has an accessible sailing base. The courses include theory lessons and sea trips with instructors, allowing participants to continue their training and racing.

Sea4All by Tiliaventum. The project takes place in Lignano Sabbiadoro and offers nautical activities year-round. The Càpita sailboat allows you to board and control the vessel while remaining in your own wheelchair, whether manual or electric. The docks, paths, and services are accessible, and activities include courses, outings, regattas, and days open to people with disabilities. motor, sensory or cognitive disabilities.

Rheumatic diseases

In the field of rheumatic diseases, experiences with velatherapy are still limited and mainly concern Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. There are currently no established clinical protocols recommending sailing as a treatment for the condition. Available initiatives are primarily social, recreational, and awareness-raising and should be approached taking into account the pain, fatigue, and physician's recommendations.

Sailing trips of the Italian Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association. AISF, together with the Italian Naval League, organizes days at sea in various cities. People with fibromyalgia can participate in the outings alongside volunteers and members of local chapters. The main goal is: counteract isolation, encourage sharing and raise awareness of a pathology that is still little understood.

Sailing and Health of the Italian Naval League of Palermo. The program combines meetings dedicated to prevention and health with sailing trips with people supported by patient associations. Participants include people with fibromyalgia syndrome. It's not a treatment center, but an initiative that uses the sea to foster participation, relationships, and well-being.

Developmental disorders

Life on board follows precise rules and assigns each crew member a recognizable task. For this reason, it can be useful in projects aimed at people with disabilities. autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome and other conditions affecting cognitive and relational development. Activities must be developed in collaboration with families and educators, respecting adaptation times, communication methods, and any sensory sensitivities.

Fair Winds – All Aboard. The project, supported by ANGSA and the Italian Foundation for Autism, welcomes people with autism, Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and other conditions aboard the Ocean Bird, along with their families and local associations. The stops along the Italian coast include organized outings for small groups, making the experience more manageable and engaging.

Tender To Nave Italia Foundation. For years, the Foundation has been carrying out education, rehabilitation, and inclusion projects aboard the brigantine Nave Italia. Participants include people with autism, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, dyslexia and other genetic or cognitive conditions. Sailors, educators, and participants share shifts, daily activities, and workshops, transforming life on board into a concrete exercise in autonomy and collaboration.

Mental health

The sail is also used in the routes of psychosocial rehabilitationSteering a boat requires staying in the present, communicating with others, and dealing with small unexpected events. The group becomes a crew in which everyone has a role. These characteristics can help counteract isolation, strengthen self-esteem, and gradually regain confidence in one's abilities.

A Sail for Everyone in Ancona. The Ancona Yacht Club project integrates a theoretical and practical sailing course with a group psychotherapy pathThe activities are carried out in conjunction with the Mental Health Department of the AST of Ancona. Evaluations conducted on participants have indicated improvements in perceived quality of life and a reduction in the use of certain healthcare services and psychiatric emergencies.

West Wind – Change of Course. The program is promoted by the Department of Mental Health and Addictions of the Ligurian Local Health Authority (ASL1) together with the Tender to Nave Italia Foundation. Those assisted by the services participate in a program that culminates in an experience aboard the brigantine. The work involves psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and rehabilitation therapists and is geared toward personal growth, inclusion, and active citizenship.

Oncological rehabilitation

Sailing therapy doesn't cure cancer, but it can support physical and psychological rehabilitation during or after treatment. Climbing aboard allows you to return to a concrete activity, regain confidence in your body, and share the experience with people who have gone through similar journeys. presence of doctors, psychologists, nurses and volunteers makes the activity safer and more consistent with the needs of patients.

The Velando project. The initiative was created by the Ministry for Disabilities, together with the Italian Naval League and the Italian Sailing Federation. It involved people with oncological, rare, and degenerative diseases, as well as those with motor, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. The boat trips were used to promote independence, relationships, skills, and self-confidence.

Dreaming of Ithaca by AIL. Born in 2006 on Lake Garda, the project is dedicated to people with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood tumorsThe boats host patients undergoing rehabilitation, skippers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, volunteers, and family members. The outings focus primarily on restoring quality of life, socializing, and psychological rehabilitation after treatment.

Read also

• Velando: the project to help cancer patients and children with rare skeletal diseases
• A sail for rebirth: the sea to help women in need.