On the beach of Boulogne-sur-Mer, families learn sand yachting on immense sandy beaches. Equipped with 150 tanks, the club of this maritime commune has existed since 1989. To supervise the courses: six instructors. “Before, we had slots reserved exclusively for adults, hungry for thrills.” explains Nathalie Devigne, director of the Côte d’Opale sand yacht club. “In fact, the children found themselves a little lost. We therefore wanted to give a place back to the family, with parents who very much wanted to stay with their children.”
Sensations from the first session
First step of the initiation: learning to prepare your tank: “To set sail, explains a young boy, there's a lot to remember. It's a little complicated, but it's so good.”
“You press well with your left foot to turn right, and vice versaexplains Nathalie Devigne to the trainees.
Animations allow you to first understand the control of your tank and experience some sensations: ” when there is a lot of wind, we must be afraid, because we are going too fast”, smiles a young girl. “Today, I was happy, because I had a good time with my family, by the sea.”
“I do not claim to master all the techniques, explains a participant, but in an initiation session, you can already move around on your own. And that's extraordinary, because there aren't many disciplines that give pleasure from the first session.”
A special moment of parent-child sharing
A moment of conviviality that parents particularly appreciate: “Our goal, explains the father of two children, is to introduce children to this activity. We're not looking for thrills.” “We're looking to discover this sport together and have fun as a family. And this evening, being able to tell each other about our day” testifies a mother.
At the end of the day, all the floats are attached to each other, pulled by a tractor, towards the club. Everyone on board their craft, children and parents, enjoy these rolling sailboats until the end.
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