Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team

What Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team does

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team (ROST) is a private, for-profit sports organization founded in February 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, established through a collaboration between KR&ZV De Maas (a Royal Rowing and Sailing Association founded in 1851) and the transport company Van Uden Group. The organization operates as a talent development program recruiting talented Dutch sailors aged 18-25 from Rotterdam sailing clubs and developing them through structured three-year cohort-based programs (currently spanning ROST I through ROST IV) into professional offshore sailors with specialized roles including skipper, navigator, helmsman, trimmer, bowman, and pit.

The team's central competitive asset is the Ker 46 "Van Uden," a 14-meter carbon fiber racing yacht designed by Jason Ker and built by McConaghy in 2011, capable of speeds exceeding 25 knots. The yacht is configured with 12 different sail configurations including Code Zero and staysail systems, and is outfitted with electronics, rigging, and hardware from a network of suppliers including North Sails, Sailmon, SmartRigging, KNF Verder, Tijssen Elektro, Yagra Jachtservice, True Heading NL, Festo, and apparel partner Gill Marine.

ROST's business model is sponsorship-funded rather than revenue-generating in a conventional sense. The organization operates through partnership funding with Van Uden Group as the initiating and primary sponsor, supplemented by KR&ZV De Maas and supporting supplier partnerships. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization competes in international offshore sailing events including RORC races, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the Admiral's Cup, with recent results including first-place finishes at the Dutch IRC Championship, North Sea Race, AC1 class win at the Fastnet Race, and 6th overall at the 2025 Admiral's Cup as part of the Royal Maas team formed in collaboration with Baraka GP Sailing Team.

Name

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team

Legal name

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team

Website

https://vanudenrost.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team is a private Netherlands-based talent development organization that recruits Dutch sailors aged 18-25 and trains them through three-year cohort programs to compete in international offshore races aboard a Ker 46 racing yacht.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Sailing Team Operations

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Offshore sailing team
• Youth sailing development
• Offshore racing program
• Sailing talent pipeline
• International regatta participation

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership and Sponsorship: Funded through official partnerships with Van Uden Group (initiator and primary partner), KR&ZV De Maas, and various supporting partners and suppliers. Partners provide financial support, materials, technology, and optimal preparation resources.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team (ROST) is a talent development sailing organization that recruits talented Dutch sailors aged 18-25 and trains them through a three-year structured program on a Ker 46 carbon fibre racing yacht. The team competes in international offshore races including the Rolex Fastnet Race, Admiral's Cup, North Sea Race, and various RORC events, providing young sailors with a pathway into professional offshore sailing careers.

Product overview

Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team (ROST) is a talent development program rather than a traditional product company. The organization operates as a sailing team development initiative, providing talented young Dutch sailors (18-25 years old) with opportunities to develop within the offshore sailing pathway. The team competes aboard a Ker 46 carbon fiber racing yacht called 'Van Uden,' participating in international offshore races including RORC events, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the Admirals Cup. The program runs in three-year cohorts (ROST I, II, III, and IV), with sailors receiving specialized training across various positions on the boat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team (ROST) Talent Development Program A three-year talent development program for young Dutch sailors aged 18-25, providing structured training, role specialization (bow, mastman, pit, trimmer, helm, navigator, tactician), and participation in international offshore sailing competitions. Participants are recruited from KR&ZV De Maas and other Rotterdam sailing clubs and progress through generational cohorts (ROST I, II, III, IV) toward professional sailing careers.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Van Uden GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotterdam-based transport company providing logistics solutions, real estate investment, and business trading. As Official Partner, Van Uden is the initiator of the Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team and provides the Ker 46 'Van Uden' racing yacht. Has supported sailing in various ways for many years.
• KR&ZV De Maas (Royal Rowing and Sailing Association 'De Maas')coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1851, one of the oldest watersports clubs in the Netherlands. Provides talented sailors with opportunity to gain experience and develop within the international offshore sailing pathway. Home club of notable sailors including Conny van Rietschoten (Whitbread Round the World Race winner) and Carlo Huisman.
• Gill MarinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld's leading technical sailing apparel brand providing the team with innovative products including Race Fusion system offering highest level of breathability. Partnership gives Gill real-life product feedback from offshore sailing conditions.
• North SailssupportingOthersSail manufacturer providing high-tech offshore sails including cableless Masthead Code Zero, Fractional Code Zero, staysail, and jib-stick system.
• SailmonsupportingOthersMarine instrumentation supplier providing performance measurement equipment.
• SmartRiggingsupportingOthersRigging specialist supplier for the Ker 46 racing yacht.
• Baraka GP Sailing TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined forces with ROST to form the Royal Maas Admiral's Cup team for the 2025 Admiral's Cup competition. Combined team finished 6th overall at the 2025 Admiral's Cup.
• KNF VerderminorOthersPump and flow technology supplier.
• Tijssen ElektrominorOthersElectrical systems supplier for marine applications.
• Yagra Jachtservice en ReparatieminorOthersYacht service and repair specialist.
• True Heading NLminorOthersMarine navigation and heading systems supplier.
• FestominorOthersAutomation and control technology supplier.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• World Sailing Trust: Global sailing foundation supporting sustainability and access in sailing. Adjacent to ROST's talent-development mission and a potential partner for scaling the program internationally.
• Royal Ocean Racing Club: Organiser of the major RORC events ROST competes in (Fastnet, North Sea Race, etc.) and an existing ROST partner. An ecosystem enabler and primary race organiser for the team's competitive calendar.

Regional players

• Koninklijk Watersportverbond: Dutch national sailing federation responsible for Olympic-class talent development and national championships. The institutional counterpart for Dutch sailing talent development at a federation level.

Broad incumbents

• Emirates Team New Zealand: Established America's Cup defender with a much larger budget, talent academy, and corporate backing. Represents the broader incumbent model of a fully professionalised sailing team/program.
• SailGP: Global professional sailing league with national teams, corporate sponsorships, and broadcast-driven visibility. Represents the broader incumbent commercial model in professional sailing.
• American Magic: US America's Cup challenger with a high-performance sailing program and structured talent pipeline. Comparable as a larger, well-funded sailing organisation operating in the high-performance/foiling class.

Direct peers

• Team Brunel: Former Dutch Volvo Ocean Race campaign (2014-15, 2nd place) and the team of Gerd-Jan Poortman. Closest Dutch legacy offshore racing team and a direct talent/training pipeline comparable to ROST.
• TeamJaJo: Dutch offshore sailing team that finished 2nd in The Ocean Race Europe, also rooted in KR&ZV De Maas. Direct Dutch national-level peer competing in similar offshore events with a comparable crew-development model.
• Dongfeng Race Team: Chinese/French offshore racing team that competed across Volvo Ocean Race editions. Comparable in running a high-profile ocean racing campaign with multinational corporate sponsorship.
• 11th Hour Racing Team: US-based offshore sailing team competing in The Ocean Race and IMOCA circuits with a sustainability-led sponsorship model. Comparable in operating professional offshore campaigns with corporate-backed partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/rotterdamoffshoresailingteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotterdam-offshore-sailingteam
• Facebookfacebook.com/RotterdamOffshoreSailingTeam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team