
About us
It was love at first sight

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!