When it comes to planning a dream adventure, countless obstacles can stand in the way – finances, lack of time, or the belief that you’re simply not capable. Fear often plays a role too – the fear of failure, judgment, or stepping into the unknown. But that’s exactly what makes these journeys so powerful. By pushing forward despite uncertainty, you prove to yourself that you’re stronger than you imagined. And in doing so, you just might inspire others along the way.

No one understands this better than Luc Masschelein, a sailor who refused to let go of his dream. For the past decade, he has worked towards sailing across the Atlantic – not just for himself, but to show others what’s possible. Despite being a wheelchair user for 45 years, Luc never let that stop him from pursuing adventure on the open sea.

Meet Luc 

Luc’s journey to the Atlantic didn’t start with ocean crossings, it began decades ago, in much smaller boats. After an accident left him in a wheelchair in 1980, he discovered sailing just a year later. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion. “Almost every week, I’m on the North Sea,” he says. “Sometimes for a day, sometimes for two, sailing to London, the Netherlands, or France. Once you’re bitten by [the sailing bug], you don’t stop.”

Sailing wasn’t Luc’s only pursuit. Over the years, he competed in wheelchair basketball and hand-bike racing, even placing 10th in the World Championships in Germany. “I did top-level sport for five years, but my body couldn’t take it anymore,” he explains. Multiple strokes forced him to stop working, but they also gave him more time for sailing – an outlet that continued to fuel his adventurous spirit.

Proving what’s possible 

For Luc, these hobbies aren’t just about personal achievement – they are about proving what’s possible. “My goal is to show people that just because you have a disability, it doesn’t mean you can’t do things,” he explains. “My motto has always been: my disability is my ability to do something.”

Many people told him it couldn’t be done, including a disabled friend who called him crazy for even trying. But Luc refused to listen. “I said, okay, if I’m crazy, then I’ll do it. And when I finish, you won’t be able to call me crazy anymore, because I proved it’s possible.”

Luc’s passion for inspiring others goes beyond sailing. Throughout his life, he’s worked alongside his wife with young people, encouraging them to break past their own limitations. “I once knew a boy who believed he couldn’t do anything. He came to watch my races, and years later, he became Sportsman of the Year.” Another young man started sailing with Luc at age 12 and went on to compete in the Olympics.

Even outside of sports, Luc’s influence has changed lives. He recalls a young girl in Thailand, a paraplegic, who joined his wheelchair project. “We adapted a chair for her, but more importantly, we showed her that she could live differently. Later, we got a message – she had taken up diving and even written a book about her journey.”

For Luc, it’s never about pushing people – it’s about showing them that they can. “You don’t have to tell people what’s possible,” he says. “You just have to do it.”

Ten years in the making 

When I ask Luc why he wanted to sail across the Atlantic, he doesn’t hesitate: “It’s one word: freedom.” He wanted to experience what it was like to sail across an open ocean. Despite being an experienced sailor – accustomed to the challenging conditions of the North Sea – he faced constant resistance.

“I got in touch with lots of charters, and they all said, ‘Oh, but you’re disabled. We cannot take you.’” He was frustrated. He knew he could manage just fine. “On a monohull, I just put my wheelchair in the cabin and go on the floor. No problem. On a catamaran, even better – I can move around in my wheelchair. If I need to go up to the bridge, I go on the ground. I will make it work.”

But convincing others wasn’t so simple. For years, doors kept closing. One Dutch organisation initially agreed to take Luc, only to back out when they learned he had a stoma. “They just disappeared. The whole organisation was gone. When I called, suddenly nobody was there. They let me down completely.”

After so many setbacks, Luc was tempted to give up. “When the Dutch company pulled out, I was really down. I had to start all over again.” When I ask what kept him going, Luc smiles and explains: “That’s just my character. If I commit to something, I won’t lose it. I had to do this. I’ve been in a wheelchair for 45 years and I want to show people what’s possible. I don’t have forever, maybe five or ten more years to do things like this. So I wasn’t going to wait.”

Finally, after nearly a decade of searching, he got in touch with Larissa, the founder of Another World Adventures which proved to be a good move! Larissa was resolved to help, perplexed by the many deadends he’d reached so far and inspired by his cheerful determination to make it happen. Through her network of sailboat crews she was able to connect Luc with the right people to bring the dream to life having collaborated with the folk at Sail Racing Academy for several years already. 

Anne Tyler Morgan from the SRA team reflects that “the thrill of adventure and the challenge of the open ocean should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability. When we heard about Luc’s dream of completing a transatlantic crossing, we were determined to make it happen. Getting to know Luc throughout the planning stages of the trip was truly inspiring, as his determination, enthusiasm, and love for sailing perfectly aligned with our ethos. It was an honour to have him as part of our crew”.

“It took just one year from that point, and everything fell into place.” However, not before Luc’s dream trip was threatened once again.

Training for emergency procedures with Sail Racing Academy

The final obstacle 

Luc’s long-awaited transatlantic journey was almost derailed before it even began. The night before departure, he received an email saying there was an issue with the boat. Instead of setting sail from Las Palmas as planned, Luc and the rest of the crew had to fly to Barcelona at the last minute after discovering the original boat had a leak. From there, they sailed to the south of France, adding 1,500 unexpected nautical miles to their journey. Still, Luc took it in his stride, telling me “It was not what we planned, but okay – we got extra sailing in, so I’m not complaining.” 

Just as they were ready to go, another issue surfaced – the generator failed. “We had to stop in Gibraltar overnight to install another engine just so we could have power.” But despite the setbacks, Luc remained unfazed. He’d already decided: “Whatever we do, we go for it.”

A dream come true

Ten days later than planned, Luc and the team finally set sail from France on November 20, 2024. Over the next 34 days, they crossed thousands of miles of open ocean, stopping only once for a brief night in Cape Verde. It was the adventure Luc had dreamed of for over a decade.

“This is why you do it,” Luc says. “You don’t feel your disability out there. You’re in the middle of the ocean, watching dolphins and whales pass by, staring up at the stars. You just lie there and think, ‘I’m here. Even if I’m disabled, I can do this. I am doing this.’ It’s real freedom.”

For weeks, they saw almost no other boats – just endless blue stretching in every direction. “For two and a half weeks, nothing. No boats on the radar, no voices on the radio – just us. It was strange.” The isolation, however, only deepened the sense of adventure.

One of the most magical moments came when they approached an island. “Suddenly, we saw 40 or 50 dolphins rushing toward us,” explains Luc. They surrounded the boat, swimming with us like they were guiding us forward. And then, just as suddenly as they appeared, they were gone.”

The experience was everything Luc had hoped for. And when they finally arrived in Martinique, the moment hit him all at once. “The first thing I said was: ‘My God, I’m here.’ I looked at my friend, and we just stared at each other, because we did it. We actually sailed across an ocean.”

A new perspective 

Since completing his Atlantic crossing, Luc has found a deep sense of calm that has stayed with him. The experience reshaped his mindset, teaching him patience and perspective in a way that daily life never could. “Before, I was always rushing, always pushing to get things done immediately. Now, if something doesn’t work today, it will work tomorrow. Why stress about it?” He smiles. “That’s probably the biggest change in me.”

When I ask Luc what advice he’d give to others facing challenges on their own path to adventure, he says: “Never stop just because something isn’t easy. If there’s an obstacle, find a way around it. But don’t fight aggressively – take your time, study the situation, and do it the right way.” He believes that most barriers, whether physical, mental, or logistical, can be overcome with persistence and the right mindset.

For those dreaming of a transatlantic voyage, Luc emphasises the importance of preparation. “Your body needs to be in good shape, even if you have a disability. You need to understand the basics of sailing – if someone shouts ‘gybe!’ you have to know what to do. And most of all, you have to want it.”

But Luc’s adventure isn’t over. He’s already planning his next journey – an even greater challenge. “I crossed from east to west. Now I want to go from Cape Town to St. Helena, then on to Southampton. It’s a much longer journey, with rougher currents and tougher weather.” Before that, he will continue to sail his own boat in the North Sea and hopes to compete in races around the UK, sharpening his skills for the next big voyage.