If each family on the coast were encouraged to access the sea, each would have at least one boat. And if every family had a boat, society’s relationship with the sea would yield surprising results. Children would learn to sail, fish, and dive; some would discover their vocation, while others would maintain a lifelong hobby. This connection would be passed down from generation to generation, creating a culture and identity that they would convey to their descendants, taking advantage of living in an extraordinary location like the coast.
Today, coastal areas remain dormant, activated en masse during the summer months. The lack of space and administrative hurdles thwart emerging enterprises. Addressing this shortage would act as a social trigger for these spaces.
Shipyards—small areas for boat access and shelter—are more than logistical spaces; they serve as meeting points. People need people, and the before and after are as important as the moment of navigation itself in creating a community and promoting its dynamism. There, shipyards, nautical schools, specialized shops, clubs, fishermen, and enthusiasts intersect. They are seedbeds of employment, health, and coexistence.
Promoting public shipyards and regulated access to the sea is not only a highly profitable investment for coastal areas and collective well-being. Opening the door to sustainable activities, sports, and learning is opening options to combat sedentary lifestyles, engage in outdoor activities, and discover vocations in people who are unaware of their existence.
If every family living on the coast could have a boat with access to the sea, the coasts would come to life all year round. It wouldn’t be a romantic regression to the past but a conscious rebirth of a culture that has always been part of coastal communities.