The Governing Board approves agreements with four entities to promote inclusive boating, traditional sailing, and the competitiveness of SMEs, with a total investment of 120,000 euros.
The City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has given the green light this Thursday to four collaboration agreements aimed at bringing the sea closer to citizens and strengthening the local blue economy. The Governing Board approved the agreements with the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria, the Federación de Vela Latina Canaria de Botes, the Club Marítimo Varadero de Gran Canaria, and FEMEPA, as reported by the City of Sea and Local Development department.
The municipal contribution amounts to 60,000 euros, but the collaborating entities will match that amount with their own resources, material means, and specialised personnel. In total, the initiative will mobilise 120,000 euros to act in inclusion, youth, cultural heritage, training, and employment.
The councillor for the area, Pedro Quevedo, highlighted that these agreements demonstrate that public-private collaboration multiplies results. "With a municipal contribution of 60,000 euros, we manage to mobilise 120,000 euros and act simultaneously in inclusion, youth, active ageing, cultural heritage, training, employment, and business competitiveness," he stated.
Quevedo emphasised that the main value of this alliance lies in the people. "The activities reach people with disabilities, students from educational centres, young people aged between 11 and 19 years, adults, athletes, professionals, and small businesses," he detailed, adding that it is about opening the sea to all citizens.
An Inclusive Sea and adapted sailing
The agreement with the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria allocates 20,000 euros municipal to the project 'An Inclusive Sea 2026'. With the club's equivalent contribution, the initiative will have 40,000 euros to promote adapted sailing among associations and educational centres with inclusive classrooms.
Initiation and technical courses will also be developed, as well as a competition for inclusive sailing. This action seeks to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy nautical activities on equal terms.
"It is about opening the sea to all citizens and turning it into a source of well-being, opportunities, and sustainable economic activity," said Pedro Quevedo.
Preserving Canarian traditional sailing
The agreement with the Federación de Vela Latina Canaria de Botes will promote the project 'Achicando el Bote', endowed with a total of 30,000 euros, of which 15,000 euros are municipal. The actions will focus on the dissemination and preservation of this Cultural Heritage Asset.
Sea baptisms, visits, seminars, and talks aimed at young people aged between 11 and 19 years will be organised. The goal is to reverse the low participation rate of this traditional sport among new generations.
Sailing for adults and nautical SMEs
The agreement with the Club Marítimo Varadero de Gran Canaria includes a municipal contribution of 10,000 euros, matched by another 10,000 euros from the entity. This agreement will facilitate access for the adult population of any age to sailing sports, promoting their physical benefits.
Additionally, it seeks to establish the capital as a destination for practicing water sports year-round. The fourth agreement, processed through the Economic Promotion department, is formalised with FEMEPA with a total value of 30,000 euros, of which 15,000 euros are municipal.
The collaboration with FEMEPA will allow for the development of training actions, technical advice, the IX Professional Nautical Week, and the external promotion of the sector. The aim is to improve the competitiveness of the local productive fabric in sports boating and ship repairs.
This sector is composed of 90% small and medium-sized enterprises with an average of five workers. FEMEPA currently groups 1,507 companies and represents 20,746 workers.
With this initiative, the City Council reinforces its commitment to the blue economy as a driver of local development. Activities will begin to be developed in the coming months, and interested entities can contact the City of Sea department for more information.
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