Our sailing courses

My sailing experience was limited, especially when it came to all the terms used on board, the numerous lines, and the many different sails. When I joined as a trainee, I was 14 years old—the youngest by far on the team. I realized I had to give 300% to keep up with the team and learn as much as possible. Fortunately, the team, including the coaches and skipper(s), was very friendly and eager to explain everything. In my first years, I learned a lot, mostly by making mistakes and learning from them.

I spent four years as a trainee at Holland Ocean Racing. Before I started, my sailing experience was mostly limited to dinghies and small keelboats. During my time at Holland Ocean Racing, however, I gained extensive knowledge of offshore sailing on an ocean racing yacht. I learned about the various roles on board, how they work together, and how to perform tasks efficiently while collaborating closely with the team. I developed skills on the foredeck, optimized sail trim, learned steering, navigation, maintenance, and much more.

I was part of the team from the end of 2021 to the end of 2024 and thoroughly enjoyed the three years with the team. I started as a beginner offshore sailor, with a single Trans-Atlantic crossing as my main experience. The training and races over these years taught me a great deal—from foredeck to helmsman, and from trimmer to watch leader. I learned to collaborate effectively and develop into a professional.

Mentally, I experienced what a top-level sports mindset entails and what you must sacrifice to achieve results. This is something I will carry with me forever.

My best race with Holland Ocean Racing was the Fastnet 2023. It had it all: the team was in top form, we overcame every challenge, and achieved an excellent result.

A memorable moment was my first Lightvessel Race, where a faulty sheet broke the railing on deck. Everyone worked together to repair it as quickly as possible and get back on course to sail the North Sea Race to England.

I now have a Mini 6.50. My next step is to sail the Mini-Transat. My ultimate goal is the Vendée Globe, so I will continue to grow through various projects and classes to achieve that. The Mini-Transat is an ideal starting point after my time with Holland Ocean Racing.