How it all started
After having participated in a Dutch big boat development program, named Team Heiner Talents, we decided to start our own matchracing team. That is when Dutch Wave was born. The team’s first experience with matchracing was at the youth worlds in 2015 in Poland, where the team came away with an exciting 7th place. This result encouraged the team to become a major Dutch match racing team, under the name “Dutch Wave”
To further develop our skills and to find strong competition, the sailors moved to Sydney, Australia. This provided the team with the opportunity to compete against some of the best youth match racers in the world from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, The experiences from this time proved to be a solid base for the European season of 2017, with the team conquering the Dutch as well as the German national title. Dutch wave ended the year on the 26th place on the world ranking.
Progress to 2020
In 2018 the first move to major international events was made. The highlight of the year was competing in the FISU student fleet racing worlds in France, where the team ended up in 5th place. At this point in time Jelmer van Beek (helmsman), Rutger Vos (main), Robin Jacobs (trim) and Jorden van Rooijen (bow), decided to go all-in at the end of 2018 and to become the world’s best match racing team.
In January 2019 the team devoted to another season in Australia, competing in the biggest U25 regatta in the world, the Warren Jones in Perth, Australia. After a few months of extensive preparations and a week of training on location, the boys showed their best sailing so far on the final day and managed to secure the overall victory! This event specifically inspired the team members since previous winners often went on to participate in the Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. With the team returning to Europe with their first prize money, a solid season was sailed with a streak of wins and podium places in Gothenburg as well as in Copenhagen. With the addition of Lars van Stekelenborg (trim) to the team, the season was concluded in the 9th place of the world ranking, which reflected our growth and results.