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An idea born of the encounter between medicine and boating
Guérir en mer was born in the wake of a simple observation: caregivers, on the front line in the face of hospital pressure and rising burn-out rates, need a break. The association offers them the chance to leave the hospital setting and spend a few hours on a sailboat. The movement began in Marseille, under the impetus of practitioners with a passion for sailing, and is now spreading to Brittany, with the opening of a branch in Brest.
The Brest-based project is spearheaded by a doctor from Le Relecq-Kerhuon, who has rallied several boat owners around him. Five to six boats, all made available on a voluntary basis, will enable several cruises to be scheduled each year.
The sea as a tool of resilience
The system is not based on formal therapy, but on the soothing power of navigation. Far from the screens, alarms and hectic pace of hospital wards, caregivers find themselves on board in an environment where time slows down. Being out on the open sea, with the horizon as a reference point and the chop as the only background noise, acts as a salutary parenthesis.
The principle is simple: no competition, no objectives, just a collective experience of relaxation. The desired effect is that of decompression, where the sea and the conviviality of the crew become the means of reconstruction.
Outings designed for all caregivers
The program in Brest is aimed at all medical professions, from nursing assistants to surgeons, nurses and practice secretaries. The outings are scheduled to take place four or five times a year, with possible adaptations depending on the weather. If conditions don't allow for sailing, other water-based activities such as kayaking or longe-côte will be offered, always in the same spirit: offering a moment away from the daily pressures.
A locally-supported initiative
In Brest, the association benefits from a favorable breeding ground. Sailboat owners were quick to respond, sympathetic to the cause. The involvement of key players in the yachting industry, combined with the experience of committed practitioners, guarantees a solid foothold. With this new branch, Guérir en mer has established itself firmly in Brittany, a region where the sea is a structuring element of the territory and lifestyles.
