Accessible sailing: Discovering freedom through travel

How inclusive water sports create new opportunities for travel and participation

In brief: Accessible sailing & inclusion

inclusive water sports for a wide range of needs
activities from sailing to canoeing and surfing
building confidence through new travel experiences

A full transcript of the video can be found further down on this page.

Traveling means freedom and new experiences for many people. For people with disabilities, it can come with additional considerations – and this is exactly where accessible travel options make a difference.

This video provides insights into SailWise, an organization offering inclusive water sports experiences. From sailing on tall ships and catamarans to activities like canoeing or surfing, the programs are designed to support a wide range of needs and enable real participation.

At the same time, it becomes clear how these experiences can shift perspectives. Discovering new places, trying new things, and experiencing freedom – for many participants, that is what matters most.

When you’re sailing, everyone is equal – the wind doesn’t make a difference.

You always experience something new. Pushing your limits. I just love that feeling of freedom.

You have to dare to try – and you can often do much more than you think.

Transcript of the video

Matthias Klei: I love to travel all over the world. I’ve already been to 31 countries around the world. I have very good assistants who can speak English perfectly. I’ve already been on ten trips with SailWise on the water.

Michiel Meijers: We offer active vacations; that’s how we started: active vacations on the water. You can sail on a tall ship that’s fully accessible. You can sail on a large catamaran, and we also offer smaller water sports: sailing in small boats, water skiing. We also do surfing, canoeing, rowing, everything – actually all kinds of water sports.

What we also offer is accessible accommodations for everyone, and that’s truly accessible, and we’ve been doing this for 50 years. The concept of inclusion is very important to us. We have a large number of volunteers who help us shape our program. You have to believe in yourself, and you can do much more than you often think, and much more than the people around you think.

Matthias Klei: You’re always learning something new, exploring new boundaries. I think the freedom is so awesome!

This portrait was generated by AI.

Author: Natascha Mörs | REHACARE.com

Multimedia editor Natascha Mörs has been working with REHACARE.com for almost 20 years. She is especially passionate about exclusive interviews – both with manufacturers of practical assistive devices and with the people whose daily lives they help make easier.

Published on: April 29, 2026