For the 5e edition of the Traditour, MACTe has once again reinforced its investment in traditional sailboat racing. Aboard “MACTe 1” and the brand new “MACTe 2,” the crews share the positive and collaborative values of a burgeoning nautical activity.
In early July, ANASA– the association that organizes events for traditional sailboat racing in Guadeloupe—proudly revealed the crews for their five small sailboats participating in the Traditour 2023. Laurella Rincon, general manager of MACTe and her associates were at the nautical center in Sainte Anne to present the two boats sponsored by the Memorial Museum: MACTe 1 baptized as “Lanmé Bel” and MACTe 2 “1802-Wabap.”
While traditional sailing holds an honored place in the heritage of Guadeloupe, this activity has seen a recent resurgence with more and more people taking part. From crew members to the organizing committee, the public, and sponsors, the investment of these participants bodes well for the future. That is one of the things that appealed to the folks at MACTe, with their incresed interest in nautical events over the past few years, and their determination to invest in the development and exploration of the historic and ancestral link between the people of Guadeloupe and the sea.
Laurella Rincon tells us, “sailing is a discipline perfectly adapted to an island surrounded by beautiful water and an archipelago. It’s a sport that reflects who we are, our identity, and our moral values. To stimulate the interest of the population, which remains a bit timid, I think we have to reach out to the most diverse group of Guadeloupeans That’s our goal in creating crews that mix men and women of all ages. Aboard, they exhibit their traits of collaboration, of combativity, of resilience, and of solidarity. It is the role of MACTe to reinforce these values that we share and transmit by way of this aspect of our heritage, in order to create a true Guadeloupean maritime identity.”
The Traditour is but one facet of the partnership between the ANASA and MACTe. Carl Chipotel, sailor and president of the association explains: “Our objective is to modify the relationship between the Guadeloupeans and the sea. It’s essential to develop what we call “self-fulfillment in blue,” which also has a clear cultural dimension. To marry sport and culture, MACTe is the key player in initiating the sharing of knowledge. If, in our collective unconscious, the sea is still associated with traumatic historic events, numerous positive subjects remain unknown. Thanks to research groups, this partnership will help structure and valorize the maritime culture that is an undeniable element of our heritage.”
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