Take control of the boat. 5 days of hands-on sailing manoeuvre training near Amsterdam: harbour entries, anchoring, man overboard drills, and boat handling. Small crew, real conditions, led by Thomas Van Thiel. 2 spots available.
What makes this special
- Confident harbour manoeuvres under real conditions
- Anchoring, man overboard drills, and boat handling
- Small group — only 3 crew, maximum hands-on time
- Led by Thomas Van Thiel — 50,000+ nm offshore experience
The Training
What it feels like
This is not a holiday trip. This is 5 days of real skill building, led by Thomas Van Thiel, one of the most experienced offshore sailors and instructors in the Ocean Nomads network. You take the helm, make the calls, and learn by doing, in a sheltered but real sailing environment near Amsterdam. The kind of focused, practical time on the water that builds actual confidence.
Route & rhythm
We will sail out of the Marina of Medemblik, sailing the waters near Amsterdam. Each day is structured around specific skills, harbour entries and exits, anchoring, man overboard recovery, and general boat handling. The route adapts to wind and conditions, but the focus stays the same: repetition, feedback, and building muscle memory.
A typical day starts with a briefing from Thomas, followed by time on the water practising manoeuvres. You rotate through roles so everyone gets equal time at the helm. With 50,000+ nautical miles under his belt, Thomas gives direct, practical feedback you can act on immediately. Evenings are spent at the marina or at anchor, reviewing the day, cooking together, and preparing for the next session.
Experience
This is a focused training week. It’s hands-on, practical, and designed to push you just enough to grow.
4/5
Intensity
2/5
Wild Factor
3/5
Comfort
5/5
Participation
Some sailing experience is helpful but not required. What matters is your willingness to learn and take an active role. This is a training everyone is here to improve. We sail, practise, debrief, and repeat.
Moments
Nailing a tight harbour entry for the first time. The focus that kicks in during a man overboard drill. Cooking dinner together after a full day on the water. Watching your confidence grow from day one to day five. The quiet satisfaction of knowing you can handle a boat.
What stays with you
- Confidence to handle a boat in harbour and at anchor
- Practical skills you can use on any future sailing trip
- Real experience with man overboard recovery
- The ability to step aboard any crew and contribute
- A small crew you trained alongside
Your CAPTAIN
Thomas Van Thiel
A born and raised sailor, ocean activist, NGO founder, and passionate educator with more than 50,000 nautical miles of offshore sailing experience. Thomas brings deep knowledge in long-distance navigation, seamanship, offshore training, and boat preparation — and he knows how to pass it on. Later this year, Thomas sets sail with his own expedition vessel to the Arctic. This training may be one of the last chances to learn from him before he goes. If you want to understand what it takes to handle a boat with confidence, there’s no one better to learn from.
Included
- 5 days of sailing training
- Boat rental. Elan 340
- Professional captain & instruction
- Sleeping onboard
Not included
- Fuel & Marina fees
- Food & Drinks
- Flights
- Travel to and from the marina (Amsterdam ↔ Medemblik)
Additional Info
It’s the people who make the adventure
Without Ocean Nomads I would never have gotten into sailing and bought my own sailboat. All in 3 months.”
— Nadiem
The community gave me the self-confidence to go out there. Things I was afraid of turned out to be skill builders.”
— Menno
Ready to take the helm?
1 spots available. Thomas heads to the Arctic later this year. Don’t miss this chance to train with him.
