Becoming a race sailorI'm Michiel Bakker. In 2003 I was born in Rotterdam. Whenever my parents rented a Valk on the Kaag, I always wanted to be in charge. When I was eight, I obtained my CWO I certificate on the Vinkeveense Plassen. After that I went to a sailing camp in Friesland, at De Morra Sailing School, where I also obtained CWO II and III. I'm still coming there during the summer vacation, now for windsurfing and for fun. Here I also learned about race sailing, and I would like to do that myself.
In spring 2014, I built a wooden Optimist dinghy with my father and grandfather. That was very fun to do, and not very difficult. It was exciting when the boat had to be measured for compliance with class rules. Fortunately, it was certified for matches. Then I could go sailing in the Combi Rotterdam, with the competition team of the water sports club Aegir. From the autumn of 2015 until the spring of 2017 I have sailed in the A-class, as a member of the Team Rotterdam sailing team. If you like to know more about my time in the Optimist, please visit https://ned3257.weebly.com |
At the start of the racing season of 2017, age 13, I had become too tall for the Optimist, and I moved on to the Laser 4.7, as the youngest sailor in the class. I really enjoy the boat, and ended 10th of the Netherlands, this qualifying for the national team. At the end of the season, I had already grown out of the Laser 4.7, so now I sail the Laser Radial, again as the youngest in the class. |