Adaptive sailing in Italy: a breathtaking experience

Sail in stunning Friuli Venezia Giulia with Tiliaventum

Let's start North, and explore the North Eastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. In this beautiful corner, between Venice and Slovenia, you can find two adaptive sailing schools: Tiliaventum and Duino 45° Nord.

At a short distance one from the other, you can choose depending on your preferences, or the proximity to an accessible accommodation. Tiliaventum: adaptive sailing, SUP, kite and windsurf... it's truly Sea4All!

Let's start with Tiliaventum in Lignano Sabbiadoro: created in 2000, this association has adapted all kinds of water sports. Not only do they have sailing boats that wheelchair users can sail, but also adapted kitesurf, windsurf, wakeboard, wing and SUP, under their initiative called “Sea4All.”

The team is experienced and counts experts and volunteers who will make a day out with them incredible fun. They speak English too, so you can be sure communication will not be an issue! You will be welcomed by Daniele Passoni, founder of Tiliaventum, and you can discuss with him and his team the best options for you to approach sailing – and the other available sports. Perk of the location: a short walk away is a beautiful adapted sandy beach where you can chill when you are not sailing – and Lignano counts a number of accessible accommodation options.

In the photo, Luca Da Prato, local paralympic swimming champion, tried out kitesurf this summer - and loved it.

(Photo credit: Nicola Oleotto)

Safe sailing school for all with Duino 45° Nord

A few km away from Lignano Sabbiadoro, you will find the village of Duino, an ancient fishermen’s village. Here, kids and adults with mobility, learning and cognitive disabilities can learn how to sail on Hansa boats with the local association Duino 45° Nord: a hoist is used to lower the person into these tiny boats, which are built in a way that makes them unsinkable, and therefore safe for everyone.

The sailing school, active since 2012, carries out the lessons in a safe harbour area, making it the best activity for beginners. Here too, the young team of trainers speaks very good English and is happy to welcome groups of tourists eager to learn sailing!

Sail with a view: Peepul in Naples

We go down South and reach beautiful Naples: what could be more impressive than sailing with a view on the Vesuvius volcano? You can join sailing courses with Hansa boats here with the local non-profit association Peepul: they have years of experience and are a very fun bunch of locals.

Sailing in style: Cadamà sailing

Milanese class of 1967, Andrea Brigatti’s passion for travel began early, exploring North Africa at age twelve. After an accident in 2003, he realised there was not much around to make sailing accessible, for himself and for other wheelchair users. So he transformed Cadamà, a 22-meter wooden ketch launched in 1971, into the first historic barrier-free sailing yacht. Cadamà features a full-beam owner’s cabin, two guest cabins, and can accommodate up to nine guests and three crew members. It is designed for accessibility, with space for up to four wheelchair users and specialized seat shells ensuring stability and safety, allowing physically disabled individuals to actively participate in sailing.

The latest work Andrea is carrying out on Cadamà will allow people who have limited strength in their arms to sail the boat independently. Cadamà is available for day trips to try out adaptive sailing, or you can charter it for a number of days, complete with the crew, if you want an exclusive experience.

Want to sail for free? Andrea offers free sailing courses on specific dates.

Useful contacts

For current activities, availability and booking information, contact the organisations directly:

• Tiliaventum – Sea4All (opens in a new tab)

• Società Nautica Duino 45° Nord (opens in a new tab)

• ASD Peepul Sport Onlus (opens in a new tab)

• Cadamà – Sailing Without Barriers (opens in a new tab)

Do you know any more great sailing adventures in Italy? Let us know! Write to info@wheeltribe.eu - we'll publish your tips!