Women’s team from Groningen rows across the Wadden Sea. Jo Turbo: ‘Rowing on the sea is a completely different story’

The day couldn’t have been more perfect for the ‘general’ of the legendary Harlingen-Terschelling race (HT). The women’s and men’s boats prepared for the final, tough, three-hour training from the Swedish harbor in Groningen. The sloop is prepared, the benches are properly adjusted, the oars are laid out.

The Groningen sloop rowing adventure started in 2017 with Derk and four friends. What started as a small group with one sloop has grown into a vibrant association with several boats. The success of the women’s team is the pride of the association.

They started in 2019 and immediately won prizes. In a short time they were promoted to the main league, where they currently hold second place. “The ladies win everything,” they say proudly. “This is our prize boat.”

Huge achievement

The HT is the ‘Eleven Cities Tour among sloop rowers’, Derk explains. It is the race that every sloop rower wants to row. This year, 140 sloops, with a crew of six to fourteen rowers, from all over the country will appear at the start. The ladies have their sights set on reaching the finish of the 35 kilometer tour in three hours and 40 minutes. “The race is long,” agrees Maike (35). “It is a huge achievement to reach Terschelling.”

The Wadden Sea makes the long-distance race a lot harder than normal. The rowers must take wind, waves and currents into account. Josephine, also called ‘Jo turbo’ by her rowing buddies, explains: “Rowing on the sea is a completely different story. You quickly have to deal with wind force two or three. Last year it was even wind force five, which was very heavy.”

This training is the last long training for the HT, but that doesn’t mean there is less fun. Coffee with stroopwafels, pleasant chatter and laughter alternate with moments of intense focus. Despite the fun, serious training is also required. At a ‘nice racing pace’ the sloop glides through the water with powerful strokes, driven by the perfect synchronization of the rowers.

The sun is shining and a cooling breeze is blowing. As they row through the meadows towards the Zuidlaardermeer, the only thing you hear is the rhythmic splashing of the oars and the instructions and encouragement from helmsman Derk.

Second family

Despite the fact that the ladies are doing so well, there is still ‘some tension’ for the HT, Maike acknowledges. “We trained less than usual,” she explains. Due to the recent death of their teammate and Derk’s wife Anouk in April, the race is charged. Still, they decided to persevere. “We are a close-knit team,” Derk emphasizes. “We have a lot of support for each other. This is my second family.”

It is a team sport

What makes rowing so special? The answers come quickly and full of enthusiasm: “It is a team sport”, “You are nice outside on the water” and “You can deliver your power.” Maike summarizes it aptly: “It’s a nice combination of breaking down and bullshit, and you do it together!”