The Summer Courses at the University of Almería (UAL) will analyze for the first time the recreational boating sector. It will be in the seminar ‘The future of recreational boating. Digital skills for navigation in the 21st century’, for which 30 places are offered and will take place at the Club de Mar in Almería between July 10 and 12. Directed by the UAL Business Organization Professor, Miguel Pérez, and Captain Federico Campos, it will offer the knowledge that will facilitate the access of more people to the nautical world, according to Miguel Pérez.
The context in which this training commitment emerges is from one of the most critical moments in our country for recreational sailing, coupled with the impact that new technologies are having on this sector. The great possibilities that it entails and the challenges to face will be addressed, discussing the fundamental characteristics of the lines of change with specialists, exploring in detail the potential impact that they can have and evaluating the necessary skills to be able to take advantage of the potential offered by the digital world. This will be analyzed from the technical, social and economic and business perspectives.
This is how Miguel Pérez has related it. In the first place, “these new technologies affect, from a technical point of view, energy issues, about how ships move, about the design of the boats, about the materials that are used, about the electronics that aid to navigation, or communication between boats, which is also crucial, but not only that, but also how the amateur is approaching sailing, because what used to be the ‘port tavern’ is now virtual, and there are multiple forums where nautical fans meet, share, disagree, discuss…, and we want to show that by doing it in person with some of these social media dynamizers; and then economically and socially.
Secondly, “the new business models, the collaborative economy, the circular economy, which are also entering nautical with force, and which, promoted by new technologies, are changing the way we know the nautical business” . He has elaborated on the matter to introduce a side of the course that can lead to a great change: “Little by little it is evolving through companies that have been around for a long time, but there is still a lot to be done in Almería; Yes, there are other ports, in nearby areas, and we want to see if this can also be developed here and facilitate access to the nautical world for more people”. Without a doubt, “it will be interesting to discuss what is done in other places and how it can be applied in Almería, and why it is not working here right now.”
Precisely about this province, Miguel Pérez has remarked something obvious: “In Almería we have unique conditions to enjoy this sporting activity, and that is a reason to organize the course, as is the fact that there are many fans, more and more, and that new technologies are changing the way we approach recreational boating, so we wanted to have a space for comment, dissemination, debate on different fields”. It is addressed “to all those interested in the nautical world, you do not have to have experience, although it is true that if they are related people, they will surely enjoy it more, especially technical issues”.
It has been proposed in a “combined” way, with some theoretical presentations, leaving space for comment and debate, with round tables, in which we will bring these experts in social networks, who have their channels on YouTube and Instagram and who will comment on us. how it develops, and applied workshops to understand the fundamentals for example of communication electronics and how they are changing, and how we can do it economically ourselves”. Finally there will be “practical part in which everything we have seen ‘in the living room’ will be brought to reality, seen applied to how it works on a boat, with a departure on the last day to enjoy the different theoretical aspects that we have seen before” .
Regarding the speakers, the director highlighted all of them, mentioning Tomás Ruiz, “who has a channel called Navegar a vela”, or “the famous nautical youtuber of The Low Cost Sailor, Carlos Huidrobo, who has a community with quite a few followers and that it will come from Santander”. From another perspective of specialists, he is “the founder of a shipyard that is very successful in Europe, located in Valencia, Sarch Composites, called Áxel de la Hidalga, recounting the new trends in models and materials used for hulls”, or “experts in technology and communications, such as Juan José Vicente”, including in the list his co-director, “Captain Federico Campos, who is a specialist in batteries and propulsion, who will talk about new trends on how to accumulate energy and how to use it”, ending with “Captain Miguel Ramón, director and instructor of the Sailing Mike Nautical Academy, who will star in the last outing activity, with the practical application of everything seen before.”
