Sailabilty Belgium

Our Mission

The motto of Sailabilty Vlaanderen vzw (Sailability) is "Iedereen moet kunnen zeilen"(Everybody should be able to sail) INTRODUCTION In simple terms the objectives of Sailability are to promote the benefits of sailing to people with mental and physical handicaps. This extends to everyone regardless of age, class, gender, ethnicity and physical status including the disadvantaged and those who cannot contribute financially. These latter we will support and will not allow to be excluded on financial grounds. We also welcome able bodied members (usually family members) to encourage and reinforce the integration of disabled people into mainstream activities and society. LOCATIONS We intend to ensure this activity is available in at least one location in each of the five Provinces of Flanders by 2020 and that there are at least 100 active disabled sailors across the Region. Sailability is located at Mol in Antwerp. Disabled sailing in three other locations (Brugges - West Flanders, Vilvoorde - Flemish Brabant, and Gent - East Flanders) will operate in co-operation with regular sailing clubs based at those locations. ROLE OF SAILABILITY IN NEW LOCATIONS Sailability reviews the suitability of the locations and advises on adaptions that might be necessary to ensure accessibility and safety. It will also loan boats and equipment (lifts/trailers) as required. In addition experienced members will train and assist the host clubs. FLEET Our fleet will be 10 boats by March 2016. We expect to be sourcing at least one to two boats each year to support increases in our activities. If resources permit, additional books will be acquired. We will continue to identify and acquire boats that are adapted for disabled people being very stable and unsinkable. ACTIVITIES To date our activities have focused on recreational sailing and to a much lesser degree on competition sailing. Recreational: The recreational sailing will grow mainly at the new locations we have identified and others we are looking into. Competition: More effort will be put into participating in national and international competitions. We will also be expanding National contests based on our work running the Flanders' Sailability Cup contests in 2014 and 2015. In these years we have welcomed participants from France, Switzerland, Australia and the Netherlands. We have also taken part in competitions in France and the UK. Rehabilitation: Further into our 2020 Strategic Vision Plan we will start with rehabilitation sailing activities together with Rehabilitation organisations and institutions. Introduction to Sailing: We will continue to offer initiation/introductory sessions to other organisations which support or look after disabled people TRAINING: We will continue to train the sailing monitors and volunteers; we are also going to start a training program to encourage as many G-sailors as possible to have the confidence and ability to sail independently. SHARING ASSETS: We will continue to work with other organisations which encourage disabled people to engage in sports and activities; we will allow them to use our boats to maximize their utilization. GOVERNANCE: Sailability will continue to be managed by a Board of Directors which meets about once a month. It consists of a: - - Chairman, - Vice-Chairman, - Sailing Manager, - Secretary, - Treasurer, Communications and Public Relations Officer, - Competitions Officer. Other members managing special projects attend board meetings as appropriate. A Strategic plan was drawn up for the period 2015-2020.