Clipper Round the World 09-10
“It’s fantastic news,” he says. “I’m proud to have been entrusted with the job of taking Cape Breton Island around the world. I was supporting Nova Scotia on the last Clipper Race, so this is a dream come true. And I can’t wait to sail into Sydney next June – I’ve heard from a lot of people how great it is.”
Competitive by nature, Jan has already made clear his intentions for the race, saying, “I am entering to win.” He explains, “I understand that the crew dynamic is the key ingredient to success and the biggest achievement for me would be bringing back a crew who say, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life’. If we get a good placing that would be awesome, but it comes secondary to everyone having a really positive experience.”
Cape Breton Island boasts one of the most stand-out designs on her hull – a magnificent eagle, the emblem of the island. VMP Group, based in Sydney, Cape Breton, came up with the design and Jan says, “It is a stunning looking boat – all the other skippers have eagle-envy!”
Jan began his working life as a photographer before retraining as a chef and then running his own business as a pub landlord in Weymouth on the south coast of England, where he is now based. The pressure cooker atmosphere of a professional kitchen will stand him in good stead for running a boat and crew in one of the most challenging races in the world.
A talented surfer, Jan has lived or worked around the water all his life but only discovered sailing after taking a theory course to prepare him for running a fishing boat. He tagged along with some of his fellow trainees who were continuing their training on a yacht and was instantly hooked. Power boats haven’t had a look in since and he has made sailing his full time career, training crews for Clipper 09-10 and the last two editions of the race.
“I love the training aspect of the race and seeing the progression of the crew. I think taking a novice crew around the world will enable me to witness an amazing transformation within them.”
