Gideon Messink – Team Director of the Sailing Team NEXTGEN: “This will be the third Ocean Race for this yacht. To get her in top condition in terms of safety as well as performance, a refit is essential. Huisfit, which is part of Royal Huisman, offers us all the expertise and skills as we need to do this refit ourselves as teams.”

“During the previous race, as Team Brunel, the yacht already benefitted from maintenance work carried out by Royal Huisman’s technicians during the stopovers. This certainly proved to be of added value; it’s the details that make the difference.”

Jeroen Sirag, marketing director of Royal Huisman: “In 1977 and 1981, our shipyard built both Flyers with which Conny van Rietschoten won the Whitbread Round the World Race (the forerunner of The Ocean Race) twice in a row. That we are able to commit our knowledge and expertise again, 45 years on, is fabulous.”

“During the previous edition of the Race in 2017-2018 we were also involved with this same yacht’s campaign. This gave our craftsmen a great sense of pride. This new collaboration perfectly complements our winning culture, as well. As a Dutch company we take pride in being able to contribute in this manner.”

20m / 65ft carbon composite racer for Sailing Team NEXTGEN: ready for refit at Royal Huisman’s Huisfit in Amsterdam. She was built by Green Marine, Decision SA, Multiplast and Persico in 2013

About Sailing Team NEXTGEN

Sailing Team NEXTGEN is the Dutch campaign for The Ocean Race; undertaken by Sailing Holland and DutchSail and entered by the Royal yachtclubs KNZ&RV and KRZV De Maas. The campaign is focused on the future.

All parties involved share one common interest: using their expertise to contribute to a better world for next generations. Competing in The Ocean Race provides the participating parties with a podium to present themselves to the world.

At present, the following participants have committed already publicly to the campaign: Janssen de Jong Groep; Batenburg Techniek and Royal Huisman.