Of all the wilderness remaining on Earth, the open ocean is the greatest.
Its appearance can change in an instant: serene one moment, intimidating the next. Encounters come without warning: a humpback breaching close by, a seabird landing on deck, dolphins lighting up the waves around the boat at night.
To cross an ocean under sail is to experience wilderness in its truest form. Using nothing but wind and current, one must work with it rather than against it, creating a partnership with forces larger than oneself.
Founder & Skipper
Growing up on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, Willem started sailing Optimists at the age of 6. Since then, not much has changed, except that the boats got bigger and the passages longer. In recent years, Willem has logged over 30,000 nautical miles at sea, including three Atlantic crossings (two of which as skipper).
Willem is experienced in offshore passage-making — planning, watch systems, and managing vessel and crew during extended crossings — and comfortable diagnosing and resolving technical issues at sea. From his father he inherited a meticulous and uncompromising approach to vessel maintenance and safety.
Besides making a boat go fast, what draws Willem to offshore sailing is the remoteness and the immersion in the raw wilderness that is the open ocean. While he is a competitive sailor, he values good seamanship above all else.
Additional Info
Co-skipper
Henry has sailed competitively in everything from Optimists to Supermaxis and has represented South Africa at various levels in international regattas, with notable results including a 2nd at the J22 World Championships and a win at the New York Yacht Club Invitational Regatta.
After graduating with an Honours degree in Law from the University of Groningen, he moved back to Cape Town to set up a sailing programme aimed at introducing young people to the sport.
Next to this, he runs Route Africa which specialises in adventurous trips in remote parts of the continent.
Henry loves adventures and the ocean, and has a particular affinity for racing big yachts in competitive fleets. He is really looking forward to joining the Warrior programme!
Additional Info
Watch Leader
Asenathi’s story reads like a novel. He grew up in the Eastern Cape settlement of Fort Beaufort, far from from the sea. Sailing only entered the picture during school holidays spent with his uncle in Simonstown, during which he joined his cousins at the Izivungu Sailing School. Izivungu was founded to introduce underprivileged youth to sailing and build their self-esteem. Despite not being able to swim, Asenathi quickly proved to be a natural on the water, consistently beating the kids from the yacht clubs in the Western Cape. He then got noticed by the RaceAhead foundation, which supported him as he went on to outcompete his peers in international regattas.
A talented football player as well, Asenathi was scouted for Ajax Cape Town, and was faced with the decision between a career in football or in sailing. He chose the latter, and his decision paid off quickly. Within 18 months of teaming up with Roger Hudson, he was helming South Africa’s 470 at the London 2012 Olympics. He and Hudson returned for Rio 2016 and along the way claimed the inaugural African 470 Championship title. SAILING Magazine named Asenathi their Sailor of the Year in 2013.
After Rio, Asenathi moved from the cockpit to the coach boat, leading the South African sailing team through the Tokyo 2020 campaign. He has since spent time in boatbuilding, and now joins the Warrior Crew for the upcoming offshore sailing programme, bringing to the team his experience of two Olympic campaigns, a coaching tour, and years of boatbuilding.
Additional Info
Specifications
History
Warrior is a genuine offshore racing legend, a 60-foot thoroughbred conceived as a no-compromise blue-water racer and proven at the highest level of ocean competition. Her victories in both the Cape to Rio Race and the Mauritius to Durban Race established her reputation as a fast, capable, and exceptionally seaworthy yacht.
Built to uncompromising offshore standards and professionally maintained throughout her life, Warrior remains in outstanding condition. She is currently equipped with brand-new rigging and sails, and will undergo further upgrades in 2026 to optimise her for fast and safe ocean sailing.
Below deck, Warrior is basic but comfortable, with generous accommodation for six guests and four professional crew. Everything on board is arranged with one priority in mind: to carry her crew safely and fast across oceans in demanding conditions.
Specifications
History
Floortje is a Swan 44 designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Nautor’s Swan in Finland, one of the most respected offshore yacht builders in the world. Introduced in the early 1970s, the Swan 44 was conceived under the I.O.R. Rule as a dual-purpose yacht: capable of winning offshore races while remaining safe, strong, and comfortable for serious ocean cruising.
The design quickly earned a reputation for exceptional seaworthiness, balanced handling, and elegant proportions. With her moderate displacement, deep fin keel, skeg rudder and powerful rig, the Swan 44 combines classic performance with the kind of structural integrity required for blue-water sailing. Many examples of the type have circumnavigated, competed successfully in major offshore races, and continue to sail today – a testament to the durability of both the design and Nautor’s construction standards.
Today, Floortje stands as a true classic. She’s a boat that was built in an era when offshore capability came before luxuries like airconditioning, washing machines and flatscreen TVs. When you’re out at sea and the going gets tough, there is no boat you’d rather be on.
Included
Not included
The Long Way offers offshore sailing, not luxury cruising. Everyone participates in the running of the boat. You will trim sails, stand watch at the helm, navigate, and help prepare meals. No prior experience is required, but involvement is expected.
Each person is assigned their own berth and (limited) storage space. Life quickly settles into a steady offshore routine, built around a four-hours-on, four-hours-off watch system, day and night.
Because we believe in removing all filters between yourself and the wilderness, there will be no access to the internet on board. Starlink and the satellite phone are carried for emergencies only. This creates space to focus fully on the sailing, the ocean, and the people around you.
Meals follow the practical rhythm of sailing. Breakfast and lunch are taken when it suits each watch, while dinner is shared together, offering a daily moment to pause and regroup.
Safety is our highest priority. Offshore sailing demands preparation, vigilance, and teamwork, and we approach it accordingly.
As reflected in our vessels, we take an almost compulsive approach to maintenance, with meticulous attention to detail and an uncompromising focus on safety. Our yachts meet the highest offshore safety standards and carry comprehensive safety equipment, including an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), personal AIS beacons for each crew member, automatic lifejackets with safety harnesses and tethers, liferafts for full crew capacity, man-overboard recovery systems, fire extinguishers, flares, and essential emergency tools.
The yachts are equipped with a comprehensive medical kit suitable for extended offshore passages. In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, we maintain 24/7 access to a qualified doctor via Starlink and satellite communication.
Beyond equipment, safety at sea is fundamentally collective. We sail as a team, look out for one another, and support each other throughout the voyage. Before departure, we conduct multiple safety briefings covering procedures, equipment, and watch routines. Participation in this voyage requires good health.
To make this commitment tangible, The Long Way donates €0.10 to the African Parks Network for every nautical mile sailed. This aids their work to protect Bazaruto National Park in Mozambique, one of the most important marine sanctuaries along the African coastline.
In this way, you contribute directly to marine conservation, simply by sailing the long way.
