Clipper Round the World

I started this blog to give a bit of context about my sailing adventure, as I will be joining one leg of the 2025-2026 Clipper Round the World race. With that, I aim to answer a couple of questions about how it all started and why I’m taking on a seemingly unnecessary adventure!

Where it began

I could go all the way back to my childhood, when I started to get exposed to dinghy sailing in the summertime, joining sports camps and learning the basics to sail an optimist and later teaming up in a two person dinghy called the 420.

Later I would buy a Laser from the same neighbours, who also regularly took me yacht sailing in the Netherlands. I would not call myself a "seasoned sailor" by the age of 20, but I’ve always been strongly attracted to the water and the wind.

The spark to sail again

In October of 2022 I married my beautiful wife Kate and we honeymooned in the beautiful Whitsundays in Australia. We chartered a 54ft sailboat named Mi Lady which took us from Airlie Beach around the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

Having a skipper and crew allowed us to enjoy the sights and the experience to the fullest, but also, it started an itch and since then Kate has encouraged me to follow my passion for sailing again.

Sailing the Yukon in Zeeland, NL

My mission to sail and skipper started soon after we returned to Belgium. I soon began studying for my theoretical exam, and if I wanted to put my learnings into practice, I had to pass my practical exam (which has been obligatory in Belgium since 2021), before the summer. By the summer of ’23 I had my ICC (International Certificate of Competence) and VHF Certification in my pocket, so we could spend our summer holidays on a beautiful Jeanneau Sun Oddyssey 349 exploring the coast of Brittany, France.

While being supportive, the family has had their personal experiences while joining me on sailing adventures. Kate will join me for "champagne sailing" and might probably be more interested in sailing a more stable Catamaran in a moderate climate, my boys started sailing dinghies themselves and really start to become better sailors as well!

Thanks to the flexible formula of flexyachts.nl I can call the Yukon, a sporty and very well kept Dehler 34, "my boat” for a couple of days per month. Whether it be for an evening or a long weekend, this has allowed me to gain confidence and take friends along, without relying on others with a boat or ad-hoc arrangements.

Before the Race

Soon after the first itch, my socials picked up on my interest for sailing and Instagram stories showed me some amazing videos about a fleet of 11 sailing yachts competing in a race around the world. And Clipper Ventures, the organisation behind the race, was recruiting people like you and me, with or without experience. Say no more!

I should probably add though, that they would carefully select and train those folks. I will take you on that journey!

Follow along

There are many channels to follow the race, and before starting my training I carefully selected one leg where I want to give it my everything to compete in the race, this will be Leg 5 - the Asia-Pacific Challenge.