"Farewell to the Wheelchair"
Montréal to Host the Mobility Cup 2025, a Regatta of Possibilities for Athletes with Disabilities
In August 2025, Montréal, Canada will welcome the Mobility Cup, an international regatta designed for athletes with disabilities. The event, organised by the Quebec Adapted Sailing Association (AQVA), promises to showcase the growing popularity of adapted sailing as a sport for people with disabilities.
One of the participants in this year's event is Monique Trudel, a Montrealer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and started using a wheelchair in her mid-forties. Trudel has embraced the world of adapted sports, trying her hand at both skiing and sailing. She will be participating in the Mobility Cup, which will take place at the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club, where AQVA offices are located.
Adapted sailboats available at the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club are designed for people with reduced mobility, making them an ideal choice for Trudel. The boats are designed to be very stable, with the sailor not having to move once installed. The sailor can control the boat without moving, with two sails and the ropes to control them just above the bar, eliminating the need for leg movement. For those with arm weakness, a motorized system is available, while quadriplegics can use a breath-based system to control the sailboat.
The Mobility Cup has two categories: the gold fleet for experienced sailors and the silver fleet for all participants. This year, the regatta is expected to attract around 32 participants, with approximately 10% using the motorized or breath-based systems. Out of these participants, between 12 and 15 are expected to be from Quebec.
Katherine Harvey-Pinard, the vice-president of AQVA, is excited about the event. She describes the Mobility Cup as "the regatta of possibilities" because someone with no sailing experience can participate. For Trudel, sailing is more than just a sport; it's a way to focus, learn, and forget about medical appointments.
This will be the fourth time in 25 years that the event has taken place in Montréal, making it a significant event for the city and the sport of adapted sailing. The Mobility Cup 2025 is set to be an inspiring and inclusive event, showcasing the incredible resilience and determination of athletes with disabilities.
Besides being an avid participant in the sport of sailing, Monique Trudel also shows interest in health-and-wellness activities such as skiing.In the realm of science, advancements have been made in the design of adapted sailboats for athletes with reduced mobility, facilitating their participation in sports like sailing.
