Author: Zuzana Králiková

ACTIVE Austria hosted an engaging local event focused on opportunities within Erasmus+ Sport and the growing network of international cooperation in the sport sector, including the SAILWISE initiative.

Sport clubs, NGOs, and associations working with diverse target groups, including women, joined the session to exchange ideas, connect with partners, and explore project results and upcoming activities. Special attention was given to the upcoming international training in Ancona.

The event created a lively space for networking, inspiration, and strengthening collaboration across the European sport community.

As part of the SAILWISE project, our partners in Austria, Cyprus, Italy, Poland, and Slovakia carried out a survey to better understand women’s experiences in sailing.

Conducted between June and November 2025 with 202 participants, the survey explored motivations, barriers, and learning preferences for women in sailing.

The results will help shape a women-centred sailing curriculum and improve access to sailing opportunities across Europe.

Full survey findings will be available soon – stay tuned!

From October 1st to 25th, Sailwise had the exciting opportunity to be part of the Newcomers Crew Training hosted by Why Knot Ladies at Marina Punat, Croatia. The program gathered 20 enthusiastic women eager to learn and develop their sailing skills, creating the perfect environment to share our approach to modern sailing and crew management.

During the training, we presented Sailwise’s methodology, highlighting how our tools and guidance can help new sailors improve their teamwork, safety, and on-board performance. It was inspiring to see the participants engage actively in workshops, on-deck exercises, and group discussions, fully embracing the spirit of learning and collaboration.

We are proud to contribute to nurturing the next generation of sailors and look forward to seeing many of these talented newcomers continue their sailing journey with confidence and passion.

On 23rd September 2025, ACTIVE Austria hosted a meeting with international partners from Spain, Croatia, and Bulgaria, including sport clubs and a youth organization, to prepare for an upcoming inclusive sport event. The meeting brought together participants to present their profiles, share connections to sport, and exchange best practices.

During the event, ACTIVE presented the Sailwise project, highlighting its outcomes and the ongoing development of a sailing curriculum for women sailors and women interested in sailing. The meeting was attended by PD Tuhobic sport club from Croatia, Euro Muevete youth organization from Spain, and Champions Factory sport associationfrom Bulgaria, with a total of 30 participants.

The meeting provided a valuable platform to strengthen international cooperation, share knowledge, and promote Sailwise as a tool for inclusive and empowering sailing experiences for women.

On May 4th, 2025, Sailwise had the exciting opportunity to be presented during the annual SHE&HIM Regatta, hosted by Four Sailing. This unique and friendly race brings together crews consisting of one man and one woman, with the goal of switching roles on board and empowering women to take the helm.

This year, 20 boats participated, with a total of 40 racers plus friends and family cheering from the shore. After the race, Four Sailing treated everyone to a buffet and prizes were awarded to all the women in the crews—a perfect setting for celebrating sailing and teamwork.

During the prize ceremony, we took the chance to present the Sailwise project to the participants. The audience warmly welcomed the initiative and appreciated the project’s aim to foster learning, safety, and leadership on board. The SHE&HIM Regatta proved to be an ideal platform for Sailwise, as it perfectly aligns with the spirit of role-switching and creating confident women captains.

We are thrilled to see the positive reactions and look forward to many more opportunities to bring Sailwise to sailing communities around the world.

On April 28–29, 2025, partners of the Sailing Women’s Initiative for Sport and Empowerment gathered in Krakow for a two-day transnational project meeting hosted by HORN Krakow.

The program included a tour of the HORN facilities with an icebreaking treasure hunt activity, followed by working sessions focused on project management, coordination, and updates on key work packages. Discussions covered the progress of the SAILWISE training programme (led by WKL), preparations for the international training in Ancona (coordinated by 4SAIL), and development of the SAILWISE Toolkit (with ACTIVE).

The second day featured a morning sailing activity, followed by planning sessions for the upcoming awareness campaign Breaking the Waves (led by AZO) and dissemination strategy. The meeting concluded with the creation of an updated action plan for the coming months.

The event fostered collaboration, strengthened partnerships, and moved the project forward toward its goals of empowering women through sailing and sport.