I used to be a dive instructor in Aruba some years ago. After my sister and I decided to give up on our Olympic dream in the 470 and focus on ‘normal’ life, I decided to do my internship for my studies in Aruba. I needed out. Away from the pressure to perform all the time and at the same time knowing that our competition had all the right papers (and contacts!).

I met a Venezuelan dive instructor and fell in love instantly. Looking back now I am not sure it was with him or the diving or both :-). I literally flew through my training and before I knew it I was working as a dive instructor making a living in Aruba. The initial 6 months I was planning to stay became 5 years. The only thing I changed along the way was the Venezuelan guy (for another one).

I left the island because I wanted to pursue a business career (wasn’t that why I studied international business in the first place??). Back in Holland I got back into sailing and started building my life. A lot has happened in those years but that might be something for another blog. The point me bringing up my diving career is that I am currently sitting on a diveboat, the divers are below with the instructor and I am on watch.

I am reliving my past and having great fun doing it! I am even thinking about getting reinstated as an instructor but at the same time I also know that my love for diving and the underwaterworld will never (again) trump my love for sailing. I am happy being on the diveboat right now, but I will be more happy to leave tuesday morning on Taz (an extreme 37) towards St Thomas for the regatta. After that we sail towards the BVI for the spring regatta and sail back to Antigua on the 1st of April.

My racing season was already good but last week it has even gotten better. As a full member of Team Taz I am now lined up for all the remaining races of the season and I can’t wait to get going. I love racing, but I also love the (nightly) deliveries to and from the regattas. 5 more days to set sail. So I will get some more dives in, help out at the shop and enjoy being landbased.

.. But the ocean is calling and I made sure he has my number!

After 2 days of training (sailing and drinking) in St Barths the Something Hot team returned well prepared to St Maarten. Ready to sail the Heineken regatta!

The team consists of Leen (BEL), Zita, Jacobine, Gaby (all Dutch) and Fee (NZL) who was on St Maarten visiting her dad and very eager to join us. 

All ladies work for Heineken and did you know the name Something Hot comes from the fact that the Heineken family used to have a boat called Something Cool?

Everybody onboard had a specific job, 2 ladies on each jib winch and Fie on the main and vang. I loved the fact that they were very eager to learn and as the regatta proceded the boathandling improved immensly. Considering how extremely windy it was this was a great achievement. We nailed every start, but the one that really stood out was the downwind start for the round island. We timed the distance (fixed point on land) and were the only boat to cross the line right on the signal. 

We have been battling for 2nd and 3rd place each race but unfortunately there was always something that screwed us up and make us lose 1 or more boats. Some screw-ups were tactically, others on boathandling (did you know sheets and winches sometimes have a life on their own?).

But most of the time the Something Hot sailing team isn’t valued for their sailing abilities: in the end it is all about the bridge act.

… and they came prepared!

Each morning we waited with 30+ boats for the 8.30am bridge opening dancing and singing on “another one bites the dust”. A great way to get pumped up and ready to race.

On Thursday we decided to take it easy on our way in and did the Heineken Bikini act. Friday was matching shorts and shirts day.

Saturday we went in big and did an Aerobics 80s-style act. To top it off we went in reverse through the bridge and that definately gave us some extra cheers. I even saw a couple of 10s from the jury!

Sunday we finished it off with the (by now) famous Baywatch act. I have never had so many (racing) boats circling us just waiting for the bridge to open. All of a sudden everybody needed rescueing.

We were rewarded with a couple of 10s and 9s and after we docked an official came to tell us that Something Hot (again) won the bridge act competition! If you look at the effort, enthousiasm and preparation (all clothes came with Something Hot and Heineken logo!) I believe it was (again) well deserved but I must admit there were some boats right on our heels. It will be tough(er) next year.

After the regatta I sailed back with Spirit of Juno, a Farr 65 from Ondeck Ocean Racing – they still have places for BVI, St Thomas and St Barts. 

It was a 15 hours overnight upwind beat with 30+ knots wind and matching waves. Eventhough it was very tiresome, I loved it but going through the bridge was totally the opposite compared to the previous days:

Now I am back in Antigua and it is simply amazing what a 3 to 4 weeks sailing (drinking) rythm does to your condition. It took me 40 minutes to do my (normal) 34 minutes trail run this morning

Focus this week will be on eating healthy, working out, passing my commercial endorsement (PPR), find some delivery jobs and find a (crew) position for the BVI Spring Regatta, St Thomas and St Barths Bucket List.

If you know anything please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be around ..