Celebrating Women in Yachting: Rosalin Kuiper

This month, Heesen honours International Women’s Day with portraits of inspiring Dutch women in yachting. Rosalin Kuiper is a professional offshore sailor and the skipper of Team Holcim-PRB, gearing up to lead her crew in The Ocean Race Europe 2025. Through her leadership, Kuiper is championing diversity in offshore sailing.

Rosalin’s journey on the water began at the age of six, sailing an Optimist on a small lake near her hometown of Zoetermeer. “Back then, you had these 24-hour solo races where you could sail at night in the dark, and I absolutely loved it.”

Although she was passionate about sailing from an early age, it wasn’t until she turned 18 that the fire truly ignited. “During a solo trip to Australia, I landed a job as a deckhand on a yacht sailing through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. That was the first time I realised this was the life for me.”

Upon returning to the Netherlands, she pursued formal training at a sailing academy, where she was selected for Roy Heiner’s prestigious youth sailing programme.

50,000 racing miles

From there, everything gained momentum for Rosalin. “Before my debut in The Ocean Race Europe in 2021, I had already completed 50,000 long-distance racing miles in some of the world’s most iconic offshore races, including the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, The Fastnet Race, and the Caribbean 600. I had the privilege of sailing alongside some of the sport’s most accomplished names. But The Ocean Race was next level—being part of Team AkzoNobel, with the acclaimed skipper Chris Nicholson and such a professional crew, on a high-speed racer—that was something else.”

Building on that experience, Rosalin joined Team Malizia for The Ocean Race 2023. The team secured an impressive third-place overall finish, and managed to set a new monohull world record, covering 641.13 nautical miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 26.71 knots (50 km/h). At the same time, Rosalin became the only female co-skipper to complete every leg of the race.

Flying across the Water at 70 km/h

Ocean racing is not for the faint-hearted. With speeds reaching up to 70 km/h, unpredictable weather conditions, and the boat literally flying across the waves on its hydrofoils, the experience is as thrilling as it is demanding. “The noise from the foils and the hull is incredibly loud—we have to wear earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones all the time. Seasickness is another challenge. The boat is fully enclosed, making the inside stuffy, and combined with constant movement, it can be tough. In choppy conditions it’s probably ten times worse than any theme park ride. Sailing these boats is incredibly intense.”

A Dual Challenge in 2025

2025 presents a double challenge for Rosalin. As a new mother, she is preparing to skipper Team Holcim-PRB in The Ocean Race Europe. “Twelve weeks ago, I gave birth to my daughter. Like any new mum, returning to work was exciting. Sailing has always ignited a flame in me—now, I have an even bigger one for her. In recent months, everything has come together.”

She and her team have spent the past months in Brittany, France, fine-tuning the boat. “It’s incredible to see the team working tirelessly to make it faster. We continuously analyse data—foil positions, sail configurations, water ballast, and countless other factors—to optimise performance. It’s similar to F1, where the crew and technical team co-develop the boat. Success is 80% down to preparation on land.”

Mast Repair at 27 Metres High

To understand how the boat is constructed and to be able to make repairs along the way, the crew actively participates in its assembly. “If something breaks, you can, of course, ask for advice from the shore, but in the end, you have to be able to repair it yourself with the resources and people available,” Rosalin says.

During the last Ocean Race, a fall had pulled through the mast, creating a 30-centimetre crack in the carbon at the top—27 metres above deck. “During construction, I learned how to repair carbon by applying it layer by layer. For this particular repair, we had to first laminate three sets of six layers of carbon on deck. Then, we brought it up, where I applied it. We had only 40 minutes to complete the process before it hardened. But in the end, we repaired it successfully and were able to continue the race.”

Inclusive Teams Drive Performance

Her role as skipper for Team Holcim-PRB extends beyond sailing. One of Rosalin’s key objectives is to make this male-dominated sport more accessible to women. “My goal is to build a high-performing, international, and inclusive team where everyone can thrive. I´m actively supporting equality and inclusion in sailing, working to create more opportunities for women. First and foremost, by being a role model—showing you can be both a skipper and a mum. After my last Ocean Race, many women told me my story inspired them to speak up and shape working conditions that better suit women. I encourage women to be confident, embrace who they are, and voice their needs.”

www.rosalinkuiper.com