Brescia Hosts Homerus International Trophy Promoting Autonomous Sailing for the Blind
Nothing is impossible. An old English adage states: where there’s a will, there’s a way. This was demonstrated by Alessandro Gaoso (a two-time world sailing champion), who in 1995 had the idea that “blind people can sail independently.” From this idea, the Homerus project was born, a nonprofit organization founded on December 13, 1996, that “teaches blind people to sail autonomously.” An ambitious and wonderful goal.
The first school was established on Lake Garda, training 80 visually impaired youths from all over Italy and even from Germany in the art of sailing (a skill not easy even for those with good vision). Now, a race is even being proposed in the Gulf of Salò, between crews of the visually impaired.
At the Brescia Provincial Office, the First Homerus International Trophy “Autonomous Sailing for the Blind” was presented, scheduled from May 24 to 27. The event is organized by the Società Canottieri del Garda with a match race format and the following schedule: training sessions until May 23 for the Australian, French, and English crews; from May 24 to 27, match race competitions.
Event details and participants
On May 25, coinciding with the regatta, the Australian team will provide three access dinghies (boats designed for various disabilities) for the disabled. At the start of the press conference, the chairman of the Provincia di Brescia, Alberto Cavalli, greeted the attendees, emphasizing the international importance of the initiative.
“There is the sporting and the organizational aspect,” said President Cavalli, “which are of particular significance. The Province diligently pays attention to the blind community through the Centro non vedenti (Blindness Center), the library for the visually impaired, and by providing financial support for other initiatives. Usually, responses to the needs of the visually impaired are purely reactive. This time, however, we go beyond that: we promote competitive sailing and the use of boats.”
“The transition from reliance on others to the freedom to be the main participant in the race can only be positive.” Assessore Buffoli also expressed his “satisfaction with this beautiful initiative. An important project, also to promote tourism growth.”
Alessandro Gaoso, founder of Homerus, underlined “the satisfaction of providing marine spaces even for the visually impaired. Homerus, with visually impaired sailors, has reached, among other places, Cádiz, Gibraltar, Miami, London, and Sydney.”
Sailing is a wonderful sport. Heroes and pioneers showcase the extraordinary potential of humans. The courage and faith of these individuals from Australia, who came to sail on Garda, are admirable. The crews are not numerous, but quality matters.”
Race details and sponsors
The match race involves two crews competing, similar to the America’s Cup. Only two boats are used, with six crews rotating them (three Italian and three foreign: Australians and French, possibly also English). Instead of luminous buoys, the markers will be sound-emitting.
Among the sponsors are the Comune di Salò, the Provincia di Brescia, the Regione, the Community of Garda, Camozzi spa, the Società canottieri del Garda di Salò, the Fonte Tavina, and the Valtenesi and Lugana wineries.
The latter produces Homerus wine, the only wine worldwide with a label written in Braille. The label reads: “If you encounter boats with two-tone sails, dark brown at the top and white at the bottom, know they are helmed by visually impaired persons. Be courteous.”
