I feel honoured to have been nominated this year, especially after having been recognised in the Chief Officer awards in the Crew Award’s inaugural year, and hope I can continue to work at sea, and make kids and young people aware about the amazing career you can have on the water.
I grew up in a small inland town in the Netherlands and picked up a love for travel and sailing during my studies. After a travelling corporate career, I discovered yachting as a career more or less by accident after a Transatlantic crossing on a 54ft sailing yacht over 20 years ago. I had no idea about the yachting industry, even despite some of the best yards being in The Netherlands.
Once on the other side I got into racing and found my first job in the BVI’s on a 90ft Benetti and I have been sailing ever since. I quickly realised my passion on the deck side, and after a season as boat captain on a 56ft sailing yacht I knew I had found a new career and decided to do my yachtmaster (doing it in December in Plymouth might not have been my best move ).
My first years were much more racing and freelance focused, with lots of race gigs, deliveries and relief jobs as mate, captain and race crew. I moved to more permanent roles after a season in Greenland and the Arctic back in 2012 (fabulous!) and have worked as mate, chief officer and captain on yachts as small as 13m sailing yachts, and as large as a 72m expedition ice breaker.
Happy to have explored the Mediterranean, Caribbean, East Coast of the States, the Atlantic Archipelagos and the Arctic. Last summer’s Arctic season was a bit more extensive than the first with Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, finishing with a rather unusual Atlantic crossing from Nuuk in Greenland to Norway via the Canaries adding another one to the list. Still plenty to discover though! It seems the more I travel, the more places I want to go to…
After an intensive and interesting New Build Owner’s Representative Course during the winter, I have recently joined an exciting new build program.
Even when I’m not working, I love to be on the water, and go sailing, kiteboarding or diving whenever I get the chance. When ashore (and afloat as well) I like cooking, a good glass of wine, travelling, reading, photography and painting.
One of the things I love about my job is working with a lot of different people and being able to help them find their way on the water, in whatever small way. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing crew and seeing them grow and be happy, keeps me motivated! I’m a firm believer of a happy crew makes a happy boat, and a happy boat makes a happy owner and guests!
Because ultimately, we’re not just sailors, we’re in hospitality and making our guests’ dreams come true is what we do…and that’s only possible when you have a great team to make it happen.
