Leon's Sailing Experience
Jan 2017 – Onwards SY Callisto
Skipper and maintenance of SY Callisto, a privately owned 58 ft performance sailing yacht from Hanse. Currently in Marina de Portimao, Portimão Portugal.
2023 – SY Walrus
Delivery of SY Walrus, a Catalina 47 from Tortola BVI’s to Amsterdam. 4300 Nm with a crew of 2. Following technical upgrading the ship for sale purposes.
2023 – SY Elefance
Sailing, maintenance and preparing Elefance, Xc50 for an upcoming transatlantic to Canada next summer, handover July 2023
2022 – SY Philae
Skipper and trainer on a Beneteau 57. Sailed trips from Lagos to Madeira and Madeira to Lanzarote.
November 2021 – December 2021 – SY Westwind
Skipper and instructor during Atlantic crossing from Gran Canaria to Martinique
via Cape Verde islands with a crew of 6 students on SY Westwind a Varianta 44.
September 2021 – SY Windshift
Skipper and instructor during a delivery of SY Windshift, a Varianta 44 from Amsterdam to Cascais with a crew of 5 students.
March 2019 – September 2021 – SY Lady Bizoe
After delivery from Fort Lauderdale USA to Lagos Portugal. Skipper and maintenance of SY Lady Bizoe, a private owned Hallberg Rassy 62.
January 2019 – May 2019 SXM season
Freelance skipper and instructor at Marina Fort Louis, Saint Martin FWI, diverse deliveries to BVI’s v.v. and day-charters for Tradewinds.
July 2018 – SY Ikigai
Captain and instructor for the owner at SY Ikigai, a 90 ft J&V design refurbished yacht, during a delivery from Amsterdam to Malaga.
Jan 2016-2017 – St Martin Yacht Charters & other companies
Skipper and technician at st Martin Yacht Charters. A charter company with a fleet of 17 catamarans and monohuls up to 60 ft. The work consists of maintenance of the boats (technical and cosmetic), boat briefings with the customers, test drives with the boats and various docking assistance. A 24/7 job with a lot of contacts in this service industry. One season also worked as a day skipper on various types of catamarans with guests. Due to hurricane Irma the company has stopped activities till further order. From December till June 2017 I was sailing deliveries and day- charters for Dreamyacht charters and Tradewinds.
2011-2016 – SY Pure
During yearly deliveries on the med and Atlantic, first mate, watch leader and technical mate on SY Pure. A 70 ft. Nordia van Dam performance sailing yacht. Deliveries went from Naples to France; Palma to las Palma; Bermuda to New York; St Maarten to st Lucia (including two weeks maintenance); St Maarten to Split Croatia; Split to Cannes and Palma tot Santorini Greece (Including preparing boat for superyacht show Palma).
2010-2023 – Zeezeilers.nl
On a regularly basis paid work during winter months in maintaining the sailing fleet of sailing school “Zeezeilers van Marken” 3 Centurions 41 and one Varianta 44. Anti-fouling, repairs, Mast trim, Engine repairs and service, etc. Also sailing instructor in northern European coastal waters (England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, and Norway) with up to 8 students per trip. In 2015 the skipper of a transatlantic charter during the ARC. In 2016 Atlantic charter skipper from st Martin to Horta Azores. In 2017 skipper on an atlantic trip to Martinique via Cape Verdes.
November 2012 – Swanilda
Co skipper on sailing yacht Swanilda (classic wooden 40 ft. Nicholson). Assisting the owner and his brother sailing the boat from Lanzarote to St. Lucia.
November 2008 – Starchaser
First Atlantic crossing on SY Starchaser a swan 58 from gran canaria to st lucia as a crewmember.
Racing Experience
About 15 years of offhore/ ocean and round the cans club rcing including Fastnet, Heineken regatta, BVI spring regattas, IJspegel regatta (north-sea), ARC
Former member of RORC and Yacht club Seaport Ijmuiden.