Publication date: 11/21/2025
A sporting and human adventure, supported by the Port Adhoc network
In France, the Netherlands and Sweden, Port Adhoc provides sailors with practical, accessible, and welcoming harbour facilities, designed as genuine places to live. But beyond the infrastructure and services offered to boaters, our group has also made it its mission to support those who live the sea with passion:
Port Adhoc is therefore regularly involved in major nautical projects where team spirit, perseverance, and solidarity play a central role. After supporting Lena Kurbiel’s transatlantic rowing crossing in 2024, Port Adhoc is continuing its commitment: in 2025, it is now the Dutch crew BeStGoLe, also taking part in the legendary World’s Toughest Row, who will benefit from our support.
BeStGoLe, a determined crew for a transatlantic row
Four Dutch rowers are behind this new project: Ko, Enrique, Jeroen and Frans. It is from their initials that they created the acronym BeStGoLe, which has become the name of their crew for the next edition of the transatlantic rowing race, the World’s Toughest Row.
In the Netherlands, the four teammates share the same passion for collective effort and the sea, and they all row at club level. They have been training intensively for several months, combining gym sessions, workouts on the Concept2 rowing machine, and sessions at sea aboard their ocean rowing boat. They will undoubtedly be fully ready for the race, which is due to start on 12 December.
Athletes united by passion and the drive to excel
For their transoceanic adventure, the four members of the BeStGoLe crew will draw on their complementary backgrounds:
- Ko, a former marine, is the instigator of the project. Having taken part in the Marathon des Sables and the Dutch Mariniers Rowing Challenge, he was looking for a new extreme challenge. For him, discipline and mental endurance are the keys to success.
- Enrique, also a former marine, likewise took part in the Dutch Mariniers Rowing Challenge. During a mission in 2021, he suffered a serious accident. This forced him to learn to live again with a transformed body, without ever giving up his passion for rowing. Taking part in the World’s Toughest Row is, for him, a way of showing that nothing is impossible.
- Jeroen, a seasoned competitor, has won several national titles with his rowing team. He sees this crossing as a unique opportunity to combine performance with a profound human experience.
- Frans, a sailor since childhood, embodies the calm of the group. He knows the sea like the back of his hand and approaches the competition with humility and determination.
A call for solidarity during the race
Alongside the sporting and human adventure they are about to experience, Ko, Enrique, Jeroen and Frans have decided to use their crossing to raise funds. They have chosen to support the charity Spieren voor Spieren, which helps children with neuromuscular diseases. The rowers hope to collect donations for children with muscular dystrophy – for their treatments, their quality of life, and their future.
The crew’s preparation for the World’s Toughest Row
“Eat, sleep, row, repeat… over nearly 5,000 kilometres, day and night, in two-hour shifts” – this is how the four rowers imagine their rhythm during the transatlantic challenge between San Sebastián – on La Gomera – and Nelson’s Dockyard – in Antigua.
To achieve this, their training is demanding: rowing, strength training, outings at sea, technical and logistical tests… Throughout the preparation, each rower also ensures the cohesion of the group and the wellbeing of their teammates.
“We all know what needs to be done. When a task has to be completed, whoever is available takes care of it. During the transatlantic crossing, discipline, nutrition and rest will be our biggest challenges.”
Jachthaven Naarden as their home port
Ideal infrastructures and services for preparation
In the Netherlands, about twenty kilometres from Amsterdam, Jachthaven Naarden is a particularly popular place for the BeStGoLe team. A genuine logistical base, our marina offers the rowers everything they need to fine-tune their preparation: “Lifting and launching with the crane and slipway, no problem. Technical assistance in the workshop, no problem. The shop, access badges, the facilities… everything is perfect! And there is always a team available at every step. This allows us to focus on our challenge without thinking about technical constraints, and brings us great peace of mind,” one team member enthusiastically summarises.
What also won over the four rowers at Jachthaven Naarden is the welcoming, warm and friendly atmosphere of the Dutch marina: whether in a sailing boat, motorboat or transoceanic rowing boat, boaters and athletes share their passion for the sea and for nautical adventures. With its services, shops and activities, Jachthaven Naarden is vibrant all year round. Users form a large, close-knit community.
“We are proud of these men, the purpose for which they are rowing, and the awareness they are raising. We were able to contribute by providing a sponsored berth and training location. We wish you a smooth journey, go for it!”
Jan-Willem Buijs, Marina Manager of Jachthaven Naarden
Jachthaven Bruinisse as a training base
A navigation basin to test the boat
For their training rows, before heading for the Atlantic Ocean, the BeStGoLe team benefits from the facilities at Jachthaven Bruinisse in Zeeland.
This second marina in our group offers Ko, Enrique, Jeroen and Frans an ideal setting for real-life testing:
The dedicated navigation basin allows the athletes to train, analyse the behaviour of the transoceanic rowing boat, fine-tune adjustments, and perfect their reflexes before the major crossing. Session after session, the four rowers refine their coordination and develop genuine teamwork: nothing compares to long hours rowing together to get to know one another in every detail and to become truly efficient over time.
As in Jachthaven Naarden, the harbour services at Jachthaven Bruinisse facilitate launching, maintenance, and equipment storage.
Ultimately, by supporting BeStGoLe, the Port Adhoc group is proud to encourage discovery, self-improvement and the freedom to navigate. Whether you are a leisure boater or a lover of nautical challenges, we invite you to follow the enthusiasm and performance of the crew, and to support their project!
