Our skipper
Denis Van Weynbergh got his first taste of offshore sailing from an early age and has been passionate about it ever since. A cruising instructor turned into a professional sailor, he’s spent the past 20 years competing in the most prestigious Atlantic races (Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Mini Transat…). Today, with D’Ieteren Group, he now has even bigger dreams: he wants to be the first Belgian sailor to complete the Vendée Globe.
Denis Van Weynbergh embodies determination, passion, creativity, courage and organisation – qualities which define a man who relishes embarking on new adventures. His life’s journey bears witness to his entrepreneurial spirit.
Graduating from the French school of political science in 1992, Denis cuts his teeth as a sailing and cruising instructor at the UCPA. Very soon, his marine activities encompass the competition domain, leading to his participation in the Mini Transat in 2001.
Entrepreneurial spirit
The following year, he creates his own company, ‘PN Express Worldwide’, a SME specialising in the national and international distribution of express mail and parcels in Belgium.
From there, he turns his hand to journalism between 2006 and 2007. A real enthusiast, he combines his job and the marine universe. In this way, he specialises as a marine journalist for Belgium’s printed press, radio and even television.
A revelation: offshore racing, his new profession
He hits the competition circuit as an amateur sailor in Class40 and lines up for some of the most prestigious races, including the Route du Rhum in 2010, the Transat Quebec Saint-Malo in 2012, the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013 and the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2015. Having racked up considerable experience, Denis decides to become a professional skipper in 2018.
The Vendée Globe: the race of a lifetime
Setting his sights ever higher, Denis tries to join the IMOCA60 circuit with a view to the Vendée Globe 2020: a non-stop, unassisted, singlehanded round the world race, setting sail from and returning to Les Sables d’Olonne. Considered to be the toughest yacht race in the world and often labelled the Everest of the Seas, to date no Belgian sailor has ever completed it.
To accompany him in his quest, he purchases a 2014 IMOCA60 (ex Spirit of Hungary) known for her sturdiness (previous owner Nandor Fa completed the round the world in 93 days).
Unfortunately, any success comes with its share of failure: financial constraints force him to give up on his project, albeit temporarily. Residing in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant when he’s not with his boat in Les Sables d'Olonne, he takes a step back from the racing scene before firing up his project again. For Denis, undertaking a project is about turning a dream into a reality.
In 2021, he joins the prestigious IMOCA60 class and competes in some renowned races like the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Bermudes 1000 Race and the Vendée Arctique. He racks up a wealth of experience, sailing over 80,000 miles across the Atlantic.
Today, his offshore sailing exposure is enabling him to turn his attention to his ultimate dream: the Vendée Globe.
Using what is an entirely novel approach in offshore racing circles, a team of volunteers from Les Sables d’Olonne have come together in the colours of the ‘Cap à l’Ouest’ Association and form the hard core of the D’Ieteren Group Sailing project based in Les Sables d’Olonne.
Dedicated and experienced in a number of areas of expertise (mechanics, electronics, finance, communication and medicine…), the association supports Denis’ project with real passion and determination.
Track Record
- 2023: Transat Jacques Vabre
- 2023: Défi Azimut
- 2023: Rolex Fastnet
- 2022: Vendée Arctique
- 2022: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race
- 2021: Transat Jacques Vabre
- 2019: Rolex Fastnet Race
- 2019: Bermudes 1000
- 2013: Transat Jacques Vabre – Class40
- 2012: Transat Quebec - Saint Malo – Class40
- 2011: Les Sables - Horta - Les Sables – Class40
- 2011: Record SNSM – Class40
- 2010: La Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale – Class40
- 2009: Record SNSM – Class40
- 2001: Mini Transat