Catamaran sponsorship project
5 years of Team Boskalis
Showing strong performance mid-September, Gunnar Larsen and Sam Frank mid-September won the Dutch F18 title, to crown the 5-year anniversary of Team Boskalis. "Everything we're working on during the season, came together this weekend," jubilated Gunnar afterwards. Also the young newcomers Jorden Veenman and Frank de Waard scored well with fourth place in a tough field of 54 cats.
- Team Boskalis, April 2011
It all started in 2007 by two ambitious students: Stefan Dubbeldam and Bastiaan Tentij. They wanted to boost their sailing career and contacted Boskalis, after seeing their positive year results. One thing led to another and that is how the Master/Trainee concept was born, in co-operation with Nacra Europe. The two youngsters were apprenticed to Gunnar Larsen and Mischa Heemskerk. In 2008, the team was already extended to four boats. That the approach proves successful, show the results seen in the past five years.
Former team riders Coen de Koning and the then 20-year-old Thijs Visser were crowned 2009 World Champion in the F18. Sacha Larsen and Christa van Helden came in twelfth place as best mixed crew. Hugh Styles and Ferdinand from West took bronze that year, which they repeated in 2010. This season, Ferdinand joined forces with Pim Nieuwenhuis, the former Olympian who made his debut as F18 helmsman. They finished fifth at the 2011 F18 Worlds, held in very difficult conditions. At the inaugural 2011 Nacra Infusion Worlds on Texel, Team Boskalis took silver and bronze. With the highest national F18 title in the pocket, the sailors are now preparing for the postseason.
Team Boskalis is the perfect place for welcoming young talent and pointing them in the right direction. It takes a great deal of ambition, perseverance, knowledge transfer and discipline to get ahead in competitive sailing. Talented young sailors come into the team like rough diamonds and gradually grow to find their own way and shine amongst the stars of the international F18 class.
Gunnar Larsen
Team Captain
For more information and the race calendar please go to the Team Boskalis website.
