Circolo Vela Mare ASD, now known as Vela Mare SRL Sportiva Dilettantistica, is a non-profit sailing school that operates exclusively through the voluntary efforts of its members, instructors, and friends.

Since its founding in 1996, Vela Mare SSD has organized regattas for both cabin cruisers and dinghies. In 2004, it launched an international offshore regatta circuit called “La Regata dei Cetacei,” which, due to its environmental focus, has attracted some of the most prestigious sponsors.

Vela Mare SSD fully embraces the Ethical Charter of Sport of the Tuscany Region. With the support of both public and private organizations, it organizes “Blue Weeks” for children, aimed at fostering social relationships and respect for nature.

As an eco-friendly, non-profit organization, Vela Mare SSD is committed to sustainable practices, including recycling and waste separation, the use of solar panels, and efforts to conserve water and energy.

Circolo Vela Mare organizes the Cetacean Regatta, which takes place between Italy and France. This event combines sports, culture, environmental awareness, and entertainment, with the goal of highlighting the natural resources of our ecosystems through educational and sporting activities.

The Graphic Competition, open to all European schools, allows approximately 100 students each year (from nursery to high school) to observe marine mammals in their natural habitat from sailing boats.

For Vela Mare, sports are not only a recreational activity but also a pedagogical and educational tool. By connecting participants with the natural environment, the organization promotes the development of healthy habits in both sports and nutrition, as well as social inclusion.

Vela Mare is based on an OPEN SOURCE spirit: everyone contributes something of their own and takes advantage of the group’s resources! Environment, Regattas, School Cruises, Sea Culture, Education, Training, Social, are just some of the “Themes” that they deal with and develop with great passion every day. Vela Mare today more than ever needs the enthusiasm of all its members. Vela Mare offers other associations the opportunity to realize their sailing projects with the support of a proven structure. With the De Coubertin Project, Vela Mare takes as a reference the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1959, Principle Seven “…. The child must have every opportunity to engage in games and recreational activities that must be oriented towards educational purposes; society and public authorities must make every effort to promote the realization of this right….”.

The aim of the Project is to give access to sailing to all children, even those with mental, motor and social problems, by offering an educational and recreational experience, in contact with nature, through the use of sailing as a growth and therapeutic tool. There are mainly children, but also adults, with mental, motor or social problems. The levels of disability can be different, everyone lives together on a boat, from the very serious to the able-bodied.

Vela Mare promotes responsible tourism that has the word Eco in all aspects of the experience. An excellent communication method to promote ESD: 

• Eco-holidays – Because a holiday must be like that, without stress, without queues, with a pace that allows you to truly recharge!
• Eco-logical – Because a holiday today can and should be conceived in a way that respects the philosophy and dictates of ecology!
• Eco-nomic – Because a holiday in breathtaking places does not necessarily have to cost a fortune. 
• Eco-friendly – Because a holiday can be lived in harmony with the natural environment without necessarily shaping it with settlements!
• Eco-sustainable – Because a holiday on a boat has a very low impact on the ecosystem that surrounds it!
• Eco-tourism – Because tourism today must respect the environment where it takes place in order to safeguard it for a long time!

Importance of water sport: 

Those who approach water sports often already have a strong sensitivity to the subject of ESD, sailing itself represents a formidable means of discovering the environment with zero impact.

Added values:

Sailing activities are inserted in a cultural context where it is possible to teach respect for the ecosystem and the sustainability of our actions. We always sail with an eye on the nature that surrounds us and to have a low environmental impact. The main itineraries are in the Tuscan Archipelago Park and in the Cinque Terre Park. Sailing immersed in nature, attentive to the wonders that surround us among rare birds, whales and dolphins. Competitive sports activities such as the Cetacean Regatta can be a powerful tool to promote ESD.  The themes of ecology, social inclusiveness and the use of sailing for students as a method to raise awareness of ESD.

Target group:

School students, water sports and adventure enthusiasts, people with disabilities, family tourism, responsible tourism.

Good practices:

• Responsible tourism and ways to inform and raise awareness among participants on environmental issues;
• Understanding Sailing in a transversal way: physical activity, adventure, education, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, community building

Synergies:

• Create synergies and network different skills to promote educational models. 
• Operating in the same sector as Mangwana, can be a great opportunity for collaborate to promote sailing as an effective tool for ESD.

Website: http://www.circolovelamare.com