Robin Jacobs

Age: 23
Place of birth: Rotterdam
Residence: Rotterdam
Study: Naval Engeneering, Hogeschool Rotterdam
Sailing club: H2o Herkingen
First victory: Laser radial, delta combi 2009
Favorite quote: Go hard or home
Idol: Taylor Canfield (Nr 1 World ranking)
Where will you be in 5 years?: In the top 3 of the World Ranking with Dutch Wave 

Humans of Team Dutch Wave

My name is Robin Jacobs. I’m trimmer of Team Dutch Wave. When I was born my parents already had a sailboat, it was named Bingo. We sailed during the holiday to the south and east coast of the UK, the Belgium coast and the whole north part of France. On that boat my sea legs started to grow. After a while my parents bought an optimist for me, Speedy was the name. It was stored on the foredeck of Bingo and I sailed every weekend with it on the Grevelingen, Zeeland. After a while, I became bigger and started sailing in boats like the laser and 420. Mostly for fun and a few small races on my favorite lake, Grevelingen.

Tsunami, a spectacular Open 30 became my next project. My team consisted out of friends from the lake. The highlight of this boat was competing in the Cowes week. It became clear to me that I wanted to do more sailing on the highest level possible.
In 2012 I started my study in naval architecture. The thing I like the most about it is that all the theories I learn are useful for my sailing. It makes me a better sailor.
Nevertheless, I decided that I don’t want to be work in an office designing boats. Becoming a professional sailor is my goal. To fulfill my ambitions I joined the Team Heiner Talents in 2014. This is a youth team under the guidance of Dutch sailing legend Roy Heiner. I learned a lot during this period, about different types of sailing like offshore sailing, dual-handed and ORC racing. Three years later Jelmer started Team Dutch Wave and asked me to be part of it. I went straight into that opportunity. I really like match racing because it is short and intensive game. The best part of racing is the finals. Then races really start to count and the pressure is on.

Next to sailing, I like to be in the Gym. Being fit makes me a better sailor, it is one of the things I add to the team. For next year my goal is to compete on the World Match Racing Tour with the team. It’s a long way but I believe that if we keep working hard we could make it soon. I’m proud of what we achieved in one year but I’m sure there is so much more to come. Can’t wait!