About Us
Our Story
In 2004, a group of passionate sailing enthusiasts and admirers of Jacques Brel joined forces to establish the non-profit organization Save Askoy II.
Their mission? To bring the wreck of the iconic Askoy II back to Belgium and restore the ship to its original glory.
The non-profit organization was founded by
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Staf Wittevrongel (Chairman)
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Piet Wittevrongel (Secretary)
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Boris Wittevrongel (Board Member)
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Herwig Deweerdt (Board Member)
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Drée Peremans (Board Member)
About Us
The brothers Staf and Piet Wittevrongel took the initiative to travel to the Marquesas Islands and New Zealand to conduct preliminary research and assess the condition of the wreck. They also established contacts with local authorities and salvage companies.
The location alone was a major challenge — the Askoy II lay in what was, for us, the furthest possible place: approximately 20,000 km away, or half the circumference of the Earth.
Amazingly, the hull was still in sound condition. Measurements taken on-site by Piet and Staf Wittevrongel showed that the steel had retained its original plate thickness.
The wreck was excavated from Baylys Beach in December 2007 and arrived in Belgium in May 2008. At that point, the ship was nothing more than a twisted and rusted hull.
The neglected sailing ship was carefully and passionately restored by volunteers for more than fifteen years, and in 2022 it was officially recognized as sailing heritage thanks to Flemish Minister of Immovable Heritage Matthias Diependaele.
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In the meantime, she was put back into service with the objective of offering everyone a unique opportunity to sail. At the same time, we also want to give vulnerable groups an unforgettable sailing experience on a regular basis.