Founded in 1960 by a group of 12 athletes who were looking for a more inclusive and comprehensive club, Clube Naval de Leça was born with its own distinctive identity. Over more than six decades, it has established itself as a reference in the nautical panorama of the northern region, standing out in sailing, diving and other activities linked to the sea. Today, it remains a family club, sustained by the volunteerism and passion of its members. We spoke with Nuno Carneiro, member of the board of Clube Naval de Leça, who spoke to us about the history, challenges and future of the club. In a conversation marked by a passion for the sea and a strong community spirit, he shared with us the vision of a project that was born from difference and that continues, more than six decades later, to assert itself as a true nautical family in Matosinhos.
How was the Clube Naval de Leça born?
The club was born from the disagreement of 12 people who were athletes at another club. They were unhappy and decided to create a project with a different vision. In 1960 they founded the Clube Naval de Leça, with the intention of being a club different from the existing ones, which at the time were dedicated only to sailing.
From the beginning, we did not want social barriers: anyone could be a member, as long as they were accepted by other members. There was no elitism. And we open doors to various modalities.
What were the first modalities?
We started with recreational diving with a diving suit and were pioneers in the north, having even discovered new diving sites in the region. Then we developed sport fishing on board, motor boating and canoeing. The club has always had this idea of being comprehensive and not confined to a single sport.
Sailing ended up becoming one of the club's great references. Why?
In sailing we stood out for our dedication to the Vaurien class, a class that emerged in the 50s and was quite important at European level. It was affordable because anyone could build their own boat with three sails and compete.
In the 70s we started building our own boats, with the help of Mr. Freitas, and developed this class in Portugal. To this day, we are the great promoters of the Vaurien class, although we have been losing players due to disinvestment from the clubs.
Is sailing still seen as an elite sport?
Unfortunately yes. There is this idea, but we have always fought to demystify this concept. Children start on small boats until they are 13 or 14 years old, in a very accessible class. The problem arises in the transition to more demanding classes, where costs increase.
Many families do not have the financial capacity to bear these costs — purchasing their own boat, transportation, registration for races. To take eight athletes to an outside event, such as in Viana do Castelo, it can cost 150 to 200 euros per child. This is where the issue of elitism arises.
How do you work on training young people?
We have activities during Carnival, Easter and, above all, in the summer. We received 300 to 400 children, many from the municipality of Matosinhos and even from the interior, who had never had contact with sailing.
Our goal is to show that sailing is accessible, familiar and open to everyone. We know that it is a demanding sport — cold, rain, sacrifice — and competing with video games and other more comfortable activities is not easy. But sailing gives unique skills.
What skills are these?
Sailing develops autonomy, responsibility and team spirit. Children learn to transport boats, work together and respect rules. When a young person is alone on a boat, at sea, with two meter waves, he gains great dexterity and maturity.
Furthermore, there is respect for the opponent and the awareness that at sea we depend on each other. It makes them more human.
Does the club only work with volunteers?
Yes. We do not have employees. Everything is provided by volunteer partners. We complied with bureaucracy and have managed to keep the club running well. We have around 30 practitioners in the Vaurien and cruise class, in addition to the sailing initiation courses.
We also have a diving, spearfishing, sport fishing and apnea center — where we have a national record holder with 6 minutes and 15 seconds.
We are a small club, but we are proud of the difference. We are not here to make money, but to welcome people. We are a family.
What is your personal connection to the club like?
I joined in 2017 as a father. I signed my son up for sailing. Meanwhile, I got involved, realized that the club needed help and I stayed out of personal pleasure — it was something I always wanted to do and never was able to do as a child.
My son ended up giving up, but I stayed connected. I was invited to the board and, during the Covid period, when a lot of people left, they asked me to help run the club. I have given what I can.
The new crane, the restored building, the restored boats — are the result of years of work. Matosinhos deserves a naval club, due to its history linked to the sea.
What are the main current challenges?
The biggest is the uncertainty regarding the future, due to the expansion of the Port of Leixões and the possibility of installing containers in this area. That would be a big loss for us. The most serious thing is that we have no guarantees.
We also face the weather conditions, which have been demanding this year. But anyone who goes to sea knows that there are good and bad days — we have to adapt.
How important are young people in the future of the club?
They are fundamental. Without young people there is no future. We know it's hard to keep them, especially when they turn 16 or 17 and go to university. But many return later.
We are working to create better conditions — changing rooms, training room, safe vessels. We want to ensure continuity.
What goals do you have for the future?
The main objective is to survive. Guarantee a young and dynamic association mass, preserve the legacy and ensure a worthy headquarters, which we have been waiting for for more than 23 years.
I hope all the effort and dedication was not in vain. I believe that, over time, it will be worth it.
Do you want to leave a final message?
Whenever I manage to provide training or bring someone new to the club I feel enormous gratitude. This justifies all the dedication.
The Clube Naval de Leça is not just a club — it is a family open to anyone who wants to experience the sea in an authentic way.
