Homerus Port Boosts Inclusive Sailing with Recent Victory at Garda
The “Homerus Port” in Bogliaco will be inaugurated tomorrow at 4 PM. It is a small structure, state-owned, located a short distance from Palazzo Bettoni, which until recently was unused and unusable: boats that broke with the tide and shallow waters. “Homerus recovered it, with the support of the Regione and Camozzi. We were also supported by Fonte Tavina and the Cantine della Valtenesi and della Lugana,” says Alessandro Gaoso, leader of the Homerus Association, which is dedicated to the enhancement – including the sporting aspect – of the visually impaired.
Now, some additional help is being awaited, such as the provision of public lighting for the necessary light points. The activity will start immediately, with a course lasting about ten days (“sailing for the visually impaired”) that will be held in Bogliaco from September 22. Meanwhile, “Homerus” celebrates its latest significant victory, brought home by Luigi Bertanza, who represents the organization.
Luigi Bertanza’s Victory
Bertanza won the fifth National Category Championship, held in Porto Tolle. Twenty-nine-year-old Bertanza from Gussago is the Italian champion in para-skiing for the visually impaired, and last year participated in the Paralympics. He has been sailing for six years: he was one of the first to try it and recently became the owner – along with two friends – of a Protagonist sailboat designed and built entirely on Garda.
It is a huge achievement, not only for the winner but also for Gaoso. Bertanza was on a boat with Antonio Organtini, a Roman lawyer. Their commitment was strong: four days of races and a total of 60 match-race confrontations, a head-to-head format made famous by the America’s Cup.
This victory by Bertanza further strengthens the commitment – as well as results, both sporting and beyond – that Homerus has pursued over the years. Beyond the significance of the win, the core philosophy of the group’s work is especially highlighted, considering the general lack of a culture that deeply addresses the issues faced by people with disabilities.
And among the disabled themselves, sometimes egoism arises, which must be fought against. We operate with a simple but effective system, appreciated by the athletes: once they have learned how to manage sailing through sophisticated equipment, we ask them to share their expertise to benefit other disabled individuals.”
The System and Awareness Activities
This is a sort of clause accepted by the athletes, who pass solidarity to others. It creates a chain that this year has borne numerous fruits on the lakeside and has received official approval.
Alongside sporting efforts, Homerus is increasingly committed to awareness activities in schools: “We have contacted two schools in Salò, asking if they are interested in meeting us.” Meanwhile, some recognition has arrived at the organization’s headquarters.
One comes from Australia, signed by Neil Anderson, who leads a club for disabled people in Sidney financed by Rotary. Anderson visited Salò in May and explored Homerus’s operational systems. He now intends to export them to Australia.
Monica Nolli, from Palazzolo, was sailing on Garda in July, hosting—a visually impaired woman— a young man with Down syndrome: “I moved my Hercules columns by a few centimeters,” she comments happily.
The upcoming weeks’ schedule appears busy. After participating in the “Gorla” and the “Centomiglia,” a demonstration regatta is scheduled for Iseo on September 29, followed by (October 19) the inauguration of a nautical base in Riva Traiano, near Civitavecchia.
