On September 20, a second veteran regatta took place on the Dnipro River in Kyiv, organized by the NGO DoLadu and the NAVITRU team. Thirteen Ukrainian defenders, comprising three crews, went to the water. Participants completed five training sessions where they mastered the basics of yacht handling, learned to work with sails, and coordinated teamwork. Before the start, a final briefing with the captains was held to reinforce the competition rules.
«I had never yachted before, but I had long wanted to try. When the opportunity arose, I took it and am very glad about it. When you’re on the water, you only think about the yacht: how to catch the wind, gain speed, steer. Everything else immediately moves far to the background», — veteran Oleksandr, call sign Sensei, explains.
The organizers view yachting as an effective avenue for adaptive sports for veterans with various injuries, including musculoskeletal system damage. The project manager of the DoLadu community, Yevheniy Omelchuk, emphasizes creating an environment for people with diverse experience, where the outcome depends on the trust of each crew member.
The sporting event is part of the broader activities of the DoLadu community in building a comprehensive rehabilitation system for military personnel and their families. After recovery programs, participants gain access to new activities, training, and employment assistance.
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