Background of skipper Axe

Axe, born in Hoorn (1971) as a son of a yacht designer sailed nearly all his live. As a teenager he had  his first professional job on the Vrijheid (Schooner) and later as a boats man on the American schooner "Te Vega" (46 m, see pictures.)

Back in 1990 this vessel was world news when Axe was kept hostage on the ship when it was on a yard in Porto de Avairo, Portugal. The owner was bankrupt because of a number of reasons: a combination of Gulf war, dollar rate and the tremendous costs of the restoration of the Te Vega.

He handles the boat together with his girl friend  who is also very experienced. He love the freedom of boating very much, also devoted in teaching the guests how to handle the sails, make knots, and all those other small things which are very important to sail the Mare Marieke. 

Over the years they are used to spend most of their time outdoors, in the middle of nature: they know every "corner" of the Waddenzee and their islands in it.

Most weekends you will find Axe's son SIL (1993) on board, a kid with a passion for everything what is alive in the waddenzee. When the Mare Marieke is falling dry somewhere, he is out catching crabs, shells and fishes.

Here You see Axe five years old with his dog in the harbor of Hoorn, right in front of his parents house.