Bouwe Bekking (born 17 June 1963) is a Dutch

sailor A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. The profession of the s ...

who has sailed in eight

Volvo Ocean Race The Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor, British brewing company Whitbread, in 2001 it became the Volvo Ocean Rac ...

s. Born in Deventer, Bekking first sailed the race during the 1985–86 Whitbread Round the World Race, on board '' Philips Innovator''. He then sailed on '' Winston'' during the 1993–94 race, on ''

Merit Cup ''Merit Cup'' is a yacht. She finished second in the 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race skippered by Grant Dalton. Career ''Merit Cup'' was designed by Bruce Farr Bruce Kenneth Farr (born 1949 in Auckland) is a New Zealand designer of r ...

'' during the 1997–98 race and on '' Amer Sports One'' during the 2001–02 Volvo Ocean Race. He skippered ''

movistar Movistar () is a major telecommunications provider owned by Telefónica, operating in Spain and Hispanic American countries. It is the largest provider of landline, broadband, mobile services, and pay television (Movistar+) in Spain. Movistar is ...

'' in the 2005–06 Volvo Ocean Race, finishing sixth, but tragedy struck when Bouwe had to make the call to abandon ship as the boats keel started swinging on its mount in the Altlantic leg. The team expanded into a two boat challenge for the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race. Bekking skippered '' Telefónica Blue'', which finished third. He skippered ''

Team Brunel ''Team Brunel'' is a Volvo Ocean 65 yacht. She finished 3rd in the 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race skippered by Bouwe Bekking and navigated by Andrew Cape. She finished second in the 2014–15 Volvo Ocean Race, also skippered by Bouwe Bekking. Th ...

'' in the 2014–15 Volvo Ocean Race, finishing second. In the 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race, Bekking competed in his eighth Volvo Ocean Race, again skippering ''

'' finishing third place. He has gained the title: 'The Volvo Ocean Race Legend'.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bekking, Bouwe Living people 1963 births Dutch male sailors (sport) Volvo Ocean Race sailors Sportspeople from Deventer 20th-century Dutch people 21st-century Dutch people