THE team

Hello, I’m Finn, and I study in Delft. I started sailing when I was 12, which is a bit later than average. That’s because my parents don’t sail and don’t fully understand my passion for it. However, they have always supported me as much as possible by taking me to races. I started in the Optimist and later moved to the ILCA class, where I spent three years in the NTT before beginning my ROST journey.

I joined ROST 2 at 17 as a mid-bow and am now a bowman in the current team. This means I’m responsible for sail changes and coordinating the team during these manoeuvres. It’s often a rather wet role on the boat, especially if you stay on the bow for too long (according to Gerd-Jan).

We primarily use 12 different sails, often in various configurations, making it a challenging but exciting position. Despite the wet conditions, I’m still very happy with my spot on the bow!

I'm Twirre, and on board, I’m positioned at the mid-bow. Together with Finn, I’m responsible for the foredeck, making sure the right sail is hoisted and set correctly.

I study mechanical engineering and work as a junior engineer at Royal Huisman, where I focus on refitting sailing yachts up to 300ft. I also run a small business specialising in sailing photography and drone footage of yachts.

I learned to sail from my grandfather on a Schouw that has been in our family for 104 years. I started racing on the bow of a Dehler 36sq and have since sailed extensively on a J22, Salona 35, and Sunfast 36. During my holidays, I’ve done deliveries on various yachts up to 60ft and regularly compete in Laser club races.

Through ROST, I aim to improve my offshore sailing skills and take the next step in my sailing career with this amazing team!

I'm Anna! On the boat, I share responsibility for the pit alongside Saar. This position requires anticipation, quick decision-making, and the ability to handle stress—everything needs to be done right the first time.

As a baby of just six months old, I was first taken sailing on a J24 to Denmark by my parents, and from then on, sailing was always part of my life. When I was 10, they put me in an Optimist, and from there, I continued on my own path, competing in Optimist races and later in the Laser 4.7 and Radial with Team KNZ&RV Muiden.

After a short break from sailing, I realised how much I missed it. Now, with ROST, I have plenty of challenges to enjoy and learn from. Striving for excellence and competitiveness has always been in my nature, and I can fully apply that within this team, where we all push to become the best versions of ourselves.

Hi everyone, I’m Saar! Together with Anna, I manage the pit. We are responsible for smooth sail changes, where timing and clear communication with both the foredeck and aft deck are absolutely crucial.

When I was just three months old, my parents took me sailing on their Draak. Sailing was ingrained in me from an early age. Even though I loved being on board, it took me a while to want to sail on my own. After a failed sailing camp at six, but still spending time in my Optimist now and then, I started training in the RS Feva at twelve. That’s when I rediscovered my love for sailing, and my passion quickly grew.

At seventeen, I competed in my first offshore race, the Gotland Runt in Sweden. Soon after, I took part in races like the Fastnet aboard the former Whitbread winner Flyer and joined VO65 deliveries across Europe. When ROST came my way, it was the perfect opportunity to sail at a high level in a driven team and continue learning.

Hello, I’m Carlijn! I recently graduated in Delft and am now working towards my architect’s title. On board Van Uden, I trim the gennaker. Once my teammates on the foredeck and in the pit have hoisted the front sail, I work with the helm and mainsail trimmer to maximise speed downwind. This involves constant communication with the helm and the powerhouse crew on the pedestal.

My love for sailing started in my childhood, thanks to my sailing parents, an Atlantic crossing, and my first hours in an Optimist on Sint Maarten. After the Optimist, I competed in the Splash and Fareast 28r, racing at both national and international levels. That’s when my interest in offshore racing began to grow.

My goal after ROST is to sail on as many different boats as possible. See you on the water!

Hi everyone, my name is Florian Vreeburg, and on board, I’m a jib trimmer. I’ve been sailing since I was seven and competing since I was nine. I started in the Optimist at WV Braassemermeer, racing national and international regattas for several years, from Combi events to Kiel and Garda.

After the Optimist, I spent a year in the RS Feva, finishing 9th at the World Championship in Follonica. Eventually, I transitioned to the Laser 4.7/ILCA 4, earning a spot in the National Talent Team (NTT), where I raced for two years and competed in European and World Championships.

Now, I’m part of ROST 3, and it’s an honour to race in this incredible project. Joost and I are the jib trimmers on board, ensuring the right jib is set and properly trimmed. Together with Floris and Wijbren, we are responsible for the boat’s speed.

Alongside sailing, I’m studying Water Management in Rotterdam.

Hi followers, my name is Joost! On board Van Uden, I trim the jib alongside Florian. The jib, the triangular sail at the front of the boat, needs to be perfectly trimmed at all times. Florian and I ensure this, as it's crucial for the mainsail trimmer and helm to get the most out of the boat.

I’ve been sailing at De Maas since I was seven. First, I had to complete all my CWO levels in the Optimist on the Kralingse Plas. Once I did, I quickly set my sights on racing, starting with local club events before moving on to regional and eventually national competitions.

I then transitioned to the RS Feva, a growing two-person youth class. I sailed this boat for several years, competing in nearly every possible event, including European and World Championships. The last boat I actively raced before joining Van Uden was the Nacra 15—another rising two-person class. The Nacra is a true high-performance boat, where I learned a great deal.

Hi! I’m Wijbren, and I’m the mainsail trimmer for ROST 3! Together with Floris and the jib trimmers, I constantly work to make the boat as fast as possible. It’s all about the details to gain that extra edge over the competition.

Outside of ROST, I recently finished my studies in Information Security Management and am now working part-time. At the moment, I’m combining IT work with a role in the watersports industry.

Like many, I started sailing in the Optimist at six and switched to catamarans at eleven, where I began racing. I started in the Hobie Dragoon before moving to the Hobie 16, in which I still compete. Wanting to spend even more time on the water, I began racing on smaller yachts a few years ago. After my first 24-hour race on the IJsselmeer, I knew I wanted more!

From a young age, I joined my dad on the Sneekermeer, where my first sailing camps began. I started at KR&ZV De Maas in the Optimist, competed in a few Combi events, and then briefly sailed in the Cadet. Eventually, I outgrew the class physically and decided to switch to the Nacra 15 to experience high-performance sailing. This was where I learned so much—not just about racing itself, but also about communication, teamwork, balancing school with sports, and the physical demands of being a top athlete.

After outgrowing the Nacra 15, I started looking for my next step. I considered the Nacra 17 and iQ Foil as options until the opportunity came to apply for ROST 3. At just 16 years old, I had already dreamed of sailing on big boats for as long as I could remember! Excited and determined, I signed up.

My position on board is grinder, working on the aft deck at the pedestal alongside Marijn. This role is about more than just grinding hard—it requires staying engaged with the sailing, always anticipating the next move, and much more!

Hi! I’m Marijn, and together with Quintus, I’m one of the grinders on board. We are the muscle of the boat—the ones who hoist and drop (almost) all the sails after the foredeck and pit have made the necessary preparations!

I’m studying Maritime Officer at the Rotterdam Mainport Institute and have just started my final year. Life at sea is nothing new to me! After graduating, I plan to pursue a master’s in Offshore & Dredging at TU Delft, so I’ll be studying for a while longer.

Before joining ROST, I sailed on various boats. Like most sailors, I started in the Optimist and worked my way up from club championships to Combi events, United4 races, and beyond. After the Optimist, I transitioned to the Splash, where I competed until I started university. During my studies, I spent two summers working on sailing yachts in Greece, which introduced me to bigger boats. The larger the boat, the more maintenance involved!

I’m Floris, and I’m the helm of ROST 3!

I’ve been racing since I was ten, starting in an Optimist on the Nieuwe Meer in Amsterdam. I loved it from the start and moved up to sailing at Braassem, eventually progressing through the Regatta Team, Youth Squad, and Core Squad. After the Optimist, I switched to the Nacra 15 to gain more experience in high-performance sailing and teamwork.

At 18, I applied for ROST 2, as my ambitions have always been in the "big boat circuit." Now, 3.5 years later, I have the helm and the privilege of steering our blue carbon racing machine around the course with this incredible team!

ChatGPT said:

Hi! I’m Cedric, and on board, I’m the navigator.

As a navigator, I’m responsible for plotting our course during offshore races. During inshore races, I support our tactician by providing the right information at the right moments. After each race, I analyse our performance, searching for those last few percentage points to help us win every competition!

In September, I’ll begin my final year of a master’s in Computer Science at TU Delft. As you might have guessed, I have a passion for computers and numbers!

I started sailing at seven in the Optimist and quickly transitioned to the 29er and Laser by the time I was 12. As a student, I joined Broach, racing in the J22, which led me into the one-design circuits of the J111, Swan 42, and Melges 32. In the Melges 32, I became amateur world champion twice.

Hello, I’m Cas van Dongen, and I’m the tactician on board.

When I was 11, I sailed my first race on the Vinkeveense Plassen. I was immediately hooked and wanted to sail every weekend. Since then, competitive sailing has grown from a hobby into a profession. Right now, I’m fully focused on building my career as a professional sailor.

I started in the Optimist and, since I was 16, have only sailed double-handed boats—29er, 49er, 470, and Nacra 17. These are all small dinghies where I’ve always been the helm. Since 2020, I have mainly been foiling on the flying monohull, the 69F, as part of my preparation for the Youth America’s Cup.

Sailing on the Ker 46 is my first project as a tactician on a "big" boat—an exciting new challenge where I’m learning a lot! My ambition is to develop as broadly and professionally as possible in sailing, and ROST is an incredible opportunity to grow in this journey.

The Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team is led by three-time Volvo Ocean Race sailor Gerd-Jan Poortman. His professional sailing career began in 1999 with a victory in the Admiral’s Cup. Gerd-Jan has competed in the Volvo Ocean Race with Team ABN AMRO TWO, Team Delta Lloyd, and Team Brunel.

In addition to winning multiple national, European, and world titles, he is now focused on high-performance team coaching in both sports and business through his company WE BY ME.