Willemijn was almost born on a boat. As a baby, she joined her parents and older brother on their boat, where her father created a special seat so she could watch just over the edge and see the waves pass by. The stronger the wind, the steeper the waves, the bigger the smile on her face.

By age four, Willemijn joined her brother in the Optimist.
At the age of six, she began competitive sailing, first at her local club in Vinkeveen and later on a national level. She always dreamed of sailing with her brother again. When he outgrew the Optimist, they transitioned to the RS Feva, where they sailed their first international competition together.

Next, they moved on to the 29er, where they were guided by former Olympian Alex Breuseker. Alex helped transform her into a top athlete and sparked her Olympic ambitions. The team then
transitioned to the 49erFX. In the first year, they excelled so much that she was invited to train full-time with the Watersportverbond, she seized this opportunity.

Currently, Willemijn is sailing the foiling Nacra17 with Scipio Houtman and she is also one of the helms of the JAJO Team Dutchsail America’s Cup woman’s team, as well as an Optimist coach for young sailors.

Scipio is a Dutch professional sailor who has been sailing his entire life. From being onboard with his parents as a baby, Scipio began taking the helm himself in an Optimist, when he was 7 years old.

Since then, he’s sailed and competed globally in a whole variety of boats including the laser4.7, laser radial, 49er FX, 49er, Nacra17, 69F, and he’s now back in de 49er working on his Olympic campaign.

He holds the 69F speed record at 34.9 knots (wowsers!) with
his team having also won first place in the Youth Foiling Gold Cup 2021.

Scipio loves speed and high-adrenaline racing, powered by nature, and his passion for the health of our waters sees him using his platform as a professional athlete to help change the way we use and look after our seas.

Like many, Holly's first taste of sailing was in the Optimist. Capsizing (repeatedly) in cold reservoir water however, wasn't something she relished, and so over the years switched to keelboat sailing.

Holly is a keen sailor with many nautical miles under her belt. Combining her passion for oceanography and geography, and love for sailing, she set up Clean Sailors in 2020 to engage fellow sailors and water-lovers in safeguarding the future of their passion – the sea.  

Holly's interest in our world has seen her work with various international development organisations on climate, population, and air and water quality. Her core background is in business, from private-equity ownership to listed companies. She's an Ocean Conservation Trust Advocate, Henri-Lloyd Pioneer and Trustee of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Sailing Trust.

Lukas is a professional sailor and German Champion 2020.  As well as training for Olympic campaigns and more recently training in the WASZP and 69F dinghies, Lukas has a passionate interest in protecting our oceans.

Lukas started sailing Optimists at the age of six, on the beautiful Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany and has been hooked ever since. 

As an Opti sailor, Lukas achieved 7th at the Worlds in 2013 and was awarded Second Best Nation. He then graduated to 29er boats, taking part in the World Sailing Youth Worlds in New Zealand. In 2017 he started a 4-year campaign for the Olympic Games in the 49er.

Lukas is currently training for the 69F Youth Foiling Gold Cup and the WASZP Worlds. 

Hannah is a three-time World Champion and four-time Paralympain sailor. She grew up in the East of the UK and learned how to race from her parents, both fierce competitors: Mum narrowly missed out on selection to the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea while Dad was a strong player on the Hornet and 505 circuits.

By 13 years old Hannah had attracted real attention. Dame Ellen MacArthur took Hannah racing aboard the trimaran “Foncia Kingfisher” during the Round the Island Race in 199 and at 15 the call from Andy Cassell, the Atlanta 1996 PARALYMPIC Gold medalist in the Sonar class, came, inviting her to go and train with him. 

She held the mixed World Championship title in the 29er class, and actually viewed disabled sailing as the weaker option until this point. Selection for the Sonar Development Squad and work with some of Britain’s finest sailors, coaches and support staff saw her win multiple World, European and National Championships over several sailing classes.

From a very young age, Jann was sailing a small family boat in the Swiss Alps. He soon took over the helm and began sailing competitively in the Optimist class. After a successful time in the Opti and several national and international podiums, Jann continued his sailing path in the 420 Dinghy, as Crew. He is currently training in the WASZP, preparing for the European and World Championships, alongside our 69F Youth Foiling Gold Cup 2022 campaign.

Jann is a part of our Clean Sailors Youth Racing Team .