Sailing Beyond Disabilities in Genk

Priding itself on making sailing more accessible to everyone, the non-profit sailing club WSKLuM in Vilvoorde, Belgium, provides adaptive sailing experiences for adults with physical or developmental disabilities living in area care facilities. West Fraser’s OSB mill in Genk is now one of the club’s sponsors. 

People with disabilities can fully enjoy the experience of sailing. The volunteers from the WSKLuM sailing club and Sailability Flanders ensure that it’s a great experience for all participants involved. 

Over the past 18 months, about 10 of these sailing outings have been organized. The number of participants out on the water varies, but usually, there are as many as seven boats out on the water carrying approximately 30 participants. 

The boats are being sailed by experienced sailing staff, and the larger boats carry a person from the care facility on board to provide supervision. The pontoon is manned by one or more experienced persons on standby with a motorboat for emergencies. Safety is a key priority. 

With spring on the horizon, the Genk team is looking forward to the club’s upcoming sailing season and is hoping for strong winds and little rain!