Growing up in the Dutch coastal provinces of Zeeland and South Holland, the sea has always drawn us in.

Gerlé Blaak began his maritime career as a 17-year-old deck hand and worked his way up to become a captain with an unlimited navigation license. As a captain, he sailed on cargo ships, container ships, and dredgers. When his wife Jacobine participated as a guest in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in 1995, she could never have imagined that she would one day become the owner of an impressive two-masted ship. Together with their sons Levi and Ben, they are running the beautiful topsail schooner Ocean Sherpa. A very robust, luxurious ship with the look and feel of a yacht. It was love at first sight!

With the purchase of topsail schooner Avatar in November 2023, they started a new business-to-business family company. Buying and managing their own ocean-going vessel is not new to them, as they owned cargo ship ‘Sardijn’ from 2005 and later became co-owners of the coaster ‘Bente’.

Ocean Sherpa will be a sailing basecamp for adventurers and sporty travellers worldwide. In 2024, the ship can be hired for sail-ski and Polar expeditions.

Follow future adventures and new voyages on the website and socials!