CIRCOLO VELICO LUCANO
(Policoro Sailing Summer Camp)

Educational activities: 24 hours per week of sports activities, 8 hours per week of Italian language course  

Program: Within the “Policoro Sailing Summer Camp” there  will be organized activities aimed at integration, fun and acquisition of new specific skills. 

Sailing School: the teaching of the sailing course will be followed a teaching that will lead the student to the achievement of short, medium and long term goals.  The achievement of these goals will be verified from time to time on the field by the instructors.  Theoretical classes will be conducted in groups. The instructor, before each sea outing, will clearly and concisely explain the exercises planned for that day. During the sea outings, photos and videos will be taken in order to be used as instructional material for the next theory classes. Safety is provided by rescue craft on which the instructors follow the students, in addition to the very fact that the activities take place in a body of water limited by marker buoys.  Racing technique and tactics Use of the Spinnaker and use of the trapeze. Specifically, tacking will be performed in a stick course, developing good tactics in upwind tacking, carrying tacking, course selection, tacking, and finally, racing tactics. In particular, simulations of the start, the fundamental moment of a regatta, will be performed, with all the signaling related to it, which is done through the codified use of flags collected in an International Code of Signals. The Circolo Velico Lucano fleet consists of: OPTIMIST, LASER16, TRIDENT16, FIV555, LASER, FEVA, SUN 2000 and CABINATED sailboats.  

Wind surf course: Theoretical classes are taught on land using a simulator. Specifically, the focus is on the balanced position of the body on the hull, during the raising of the sail from the water, which involves more than physical effort the ability to coordinate without falling into the water. Ashore, the two fundamental maneuvers, tacking and jibing, are also simulated to change tack and reach a predetermined point in the sea area used for practice (Buoy).  The practie at sea involve continuous work on everything simulated ashore, until a good mastery of the vessel is acquired, which then allows the student to be able to move at sea by tacking between two predetermined points, sailing both upwind and in carrying gaits. The facility has no. 5 MISTRAL ONE DESIGN sailboards. 

 Kitesurfing: This is a completely ecological (the key elements are the wind and the sea), innovative and, above all, adrenaline-pumping sport, that consists of being towed by a steerable PowerKite (kite) standing on a surfboard, using as propulsive force originated by the wind. Contrary to many spectacular sports, kit surfing does not need special conditions (strong winds and oceanic waves), so the Lucanian coastal coastline offers numerous opportunities to identify goodlocations that are suitable for this sport. Kitesurf is a sporting specialty that officially falls among the disciplines assimilated to sailing that combines the techniques of surfing and windsurfing (and other board sports as well) with the tranquility of sailing inherent in the typical navigation of sailboats.  

Canoeing: Canoeing is a complete sport discipline that places a major focus on the muscles of the arms and shoulders for the technical gesture of “paddling.” In addition, the canoeist makes great use of the muscles of the back, through rotations, and of the “core” (the central part of the body, including the abdominals) for maintaining balance and the correct position of the back. Students, constantly supervised by instructors, will take part in fantastic excursions along the dune coasts of the Ionian Sea including the exclusive lake environments of great beauty that, while doing canoeing, it is possible to observe and ascend, such as the mouths of the Sinni and Agri rivers. The center has 30 canoes at its disposal.

Horseback Riding: The Circolo Velico Lucano has a horseriding school, where lessons on horseback are organized so that the students can be able to trot and gallop safely. The main purpose is to initiate students into equestrian tourism, thanks to the campus being surrounded by an environment that encourages excursions.Beginners will be able to get into horseback riding from the very first steps, while those who already have experience with horses will be able to have targeted lessons to extend their technical knowledge.The course can be included as one-hour lessons can be held without creating problems for the organization of the day. The center has No. 7 horses and No. 01 riding stables.

Nautical Workshop in Italian Language: Students, through the “Sailing Game,” (in Italian “Gioco Vela”) will participate in classes held in Italian to learn nautical terminology with emphasis on knots names, wind rose, gaits, etc.  Learning nautical terms is essential because it provides a global language used by sailors to communicate clearly and effectively. 

Environmental Activities:

 Orienteering: Also called the Sport of the Woods, it is the set of techniques for recognizing one’s position within an outlined course, in which the athlete, equipped with a map and compass, must reach the finish line by passing through a series of checkpoints, called lanterns.In recent years, orienteering (orientamento in Italian), is a sporting practice that has taken on considerable interest from the school world as a tool capable of combining the enhancement of the attractions of unknown geographic spaces with the development of tourism, by promoting its places and activities to a series of technical, educational, training, environmental and cultural values through a path of interdisciplinarity with school subjects. 

Cetaceans and Turtles Project:  Marine biology lessons will survey the population of cetaceans and turtles living along the coasts of the Ionian Sea.  

Nature workshop; there will be excursions to the Bosco Pantano Oriented Nature Reserve for direct contact with the natural environment and a hands-on approach with the writing of forms for the purpose of classifying and censusing the existing flora and fauna on site. The children will learn to recognize the flora, fauna and various ecosystems of the reserve through experiences aimed, likewise, at raising awareness and appreciation of the surrounding environment.  .

Recreational Sports Activities: Casual Sport entertainment tournaments will be provided by federal instructors, who will organize sport games such as: Beach Soccer; Beach Volleyball; Table Tennis; Archery; Table Football. The Circolo Velico Lucano, in fact, among the equipment that allows the conduct of sports disciplines, has soccer fields, beach volleyball and beach soccer fields, table tennis tables, circuit for archery, tables for Table Football, badminton equipment.

Evening Activities: The Evening Animation Team, after dinner will involve the children in dancing evenings, discodance, karaoke, stargazing nights, living experiences on the beach to enjoy the dazzling charm of sunrises and sunsets on the sea, etc.

Dedicated program for children with disabilities; During the entire stay within the facility, specific activities will be drawn up. Circolo Velico Lucano represents a significant example of the importance of inclusiveness and accessibility in sports, demonstrating a tangible commitment to the community of people with disabilities.  Through the purchase of specific equipment (bikes and wheelchairs) among others, designed with compatible features for use by people with disabilities, it not only promotes physical activity and social involvement, but also wishes to embrace the values of equity and participation. These investments highlight the essential role of sports as a tool for inclusion and empowerment for people with disabilities by enabling individuals with different abilities to actively participate in sports activities, challenging the physical and social barriers that sometimes limit their involvement. Through sports, people with disabilities can develop self-confidence, acquire new skills, and make meaningful connections with other participants. This commitment to inclusiveness not only improves the quality of life for people with disabilities, but also enriches the local sports culture by promoting values of diversity, respect and equality. Circolo Velico Lucano thus stands out as an example of leadership and social engagement in the sports scene, inspiring other organizations to follow suit and adopt policies and initiatives to promote accessibility and inclusion for all.