Bouwe Bekking has eight round-the-globe races under his belt, a veteran considered one of the world’s most experienced sailors. He steps onboard Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team for Leg 6 of The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint.

Taking the call from Aarhus in Denmark, Bekking was waiting for the VO65 to arrive from Portugal to start training. 

“After Leg 1, our boat went back to Cascais. It’s been out of the water over there. They changed some elements, and our younger sailors are delivering it back here now.” 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 features two different fleets: the 60-foot IMOCA Class which is racing around the world for The Ocean Race Trophy, and the 65-foot VO65 Class which is racing for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup over three legs. Bekking already raced Leg 1 from Alicante, Spain to Cabo Verde with Team JAJO. He’s now joining the Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team for Leg 6 from Aarhus to The Hague in his native Netherlands.

“The leg from Aarhus to The Hague is very short and will be intense; the last one from The Hague to Genoa can actually be a long leg,” he says.“ The last leg in the Mediterranean Sea can normally be super light so it could take a few more days than expected. 

“In that sense, you still approach it like an ocean leg – you still have to pack your food, plan your sails… yes, in that sense, it still feels like the old Ocean Race days.” 

It’s fair to say this VO65 Sprint Cup differs from Bekking’s eight previous participations in the race, his first going back to the 1985-86 Whitbread onboard Philips Innovator. But the excitement is there nonetheless. 

“I’ve done eight round-the-world races. This edition is different from the others, but I love this race, and I believe it’s good for the VO65s to be here. There are more boats in the harbor, and the spectators can see us sailing on deck, which is a bit different from the IMOCAs. It’s a different type of sailing that brings a lot of joy to me – and I think to the public as well.”

📸 Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race

With the leg start set on June 8 from Aarhus, Bekking and his crewmates, who’re skippered by Roberto 'Chuny' Bermúdez de Castro, “have a busy week ahead.” 

“We had a little bit of a setback because we were supposed to start sailing at the end of May, but we had to change the gearbox and the boat was delayed a couple of days. Now we need to change our delivery sails for our race sails, race the inshore race, and a couple of other happenings, so we have a bit on. 

“But the way our team is set up, we have a very experienced core crew, and a couple of young people onboard who actually did the delivery. We have a nice mix of people – we can teach the youngsters and they can learn a few tricks very quickly. I think it’s really fantastic that we’re over here and that we can get racing.”

Despite its shorter format, there is no doubt the VO65 Sprint Cup is a good stepping stone for younger sailors. “It’s very good for their sailing CVs to get the opportunity to do a couple of Ocean Race legs and sail the VO65. It’s just a completely different sailing boat, different from the IMOCA.” 

In fact, it’s partly because the VO65s are tested one-design boats, all equipped with North 3Di sails, that it’s possible for teams to come in and take part in this hit & run racing format. 

“It’ll be really interesting to see on the water,” comments Bekking. “All the teams have actually made crew changes… WindWhisper Racing Team is the favorite, but it’ll also be interesting to see what Team JAJO, who I sailed the first leg with, has learned. And this time, they sail into their hometown, so they’ll have that little bit of extra energy. 

“And then, Viva México is the dark horse of the fleet – same for Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova. The Austrians finally have a new North Sails mainsail – after the boat sailed twice around the world. That sail must have had 100,000 miles under its belt! It was time.”

That durability of 3Di is one of the factors that makes it possible for the crews to come in and virtually hit the ground running in a scattered VO65 Sprint Cup.

📸 Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race

“The North Sails people are of course helping us all here, including the IMOCAs when needed. So, the support is there but in reality, not a lot of maintenance is needed. The thing is, the VO65 sails don’t need a lot of service. As I said, a VO65 mainsail can do 100,000 miles. And in that amount of breeze too! That’s remarkable.” 

It might not taste exactly like the old editions of the race for Bekking, and it might be a bit of an unusual format – but in the end, the essentials are here. A fleet of ocean racing boats, a mix of sailors from different backgrounds, generations, and genders, and, most of all, a tactical battle to play on the water. 

“The one-design racing will be very interesting to see,” he adds. “People still have to make decisions on the water – you go around corners and have to make the right choices. That’s still a very important part of the race. 

“For yourself, for your team, for your sponsors, for the public, you obviously want to win. You hope to do your best.”