During the school holidays, the Yacht Club de Monaco is once again hosting its popular SeaAdventures Camps—nautical weeks designed for children aged 5 to 17. These engaging, sports-based sessions focus on sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and marine discovery, offering young participants immersive experiences on, in, and under the water.
Yet, while these camps energise the harbour with youthful enthusiasm, another initiative is quietly unfolding on the same stretch of sea—a programme with a powerful message: the ocean should be accessible to all. Each week, the Yacht Club welcomes a different group of young people facing vulnerability, whether due to disability, illness, or social hardship. These tailored activities are separate from the SeaAdventures Camps but run in parallel, reinforcing the Club’s commitment to inclusivity.
Last week, the Yacht Club hosted a group of young patients from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG), who took part in specially adapted sessions. This week, the Club is collaborating with Les Enfants de Frankie, a charity that organises daily visits for small groups from its network of partner associations. Each day, a different organisation enables around ten children and their carers to experience a day on the water.
Next week, it will be the turn of Monaco Disease Power, an association dedicated to children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, to enjoy the programme.
All activities are adapted to the needs and abilities of the participants and include sailing on Hansa 303s, Echo boats, paddleboarding, and kayaking. These sessions are supervised by Alex Richard, a coach specifically trained to work with individuals with disabilities, and supported by staff from the visiting associations.
This inclusive initiative is part of the Yacht Club’s Navicap programme, run by its Sports Section. Launched three years ago, Navicap was made possible thanks to the generous support of Club donor Elena Sivoldaeva. The programme uses a fleet of specially adapted boats, including one AIRA 22, two Hansa 303s, and one Echo 90, enabling the Club to host a wide range of participants. In addition to the summer sessions, each partner association is invited to take part in two sessions per month throughout the year.
The highlight of this inclusive strategy is the Navicap Challenge – Trophée Elena Sivoldaeva, a unique regatta that brings together mixed crews of able-bodied and disabled sailors. Now in its third year, the event will take place from November 28 to 30. Around thirty duos from across Europe will compete aboard Hansa 303s in a celebration of resilience, unity, and accessibility.
